Constitution
Information
The Irish Constitution was enacted in 1937. It is the fundamental legal document that sets out how Ireland should be governed through a series of 50 Articles. Every part of the Constitution is set out in both the Irish and English language. The Irish language title for the Constitution is 'Bunreacht na hEireann', which means, 'Basic Law of Ireland'. You can view the text of Bunreacht na hEireann here.
The Constitution establishes the branches or organs of government, it establishes the courts and it also sets out how those institutions should be run. The Constitution has another important function; it describes the fundamental rights that every Irish citizen is entitled to.
One of the most important Articles of the Constitution is Article 15.4, which states that the Oireachtas must not enact any law that is repugnant to the Constitution and that any such law is invalid. This means, that the law set down in the Constitution is superior to all other law, including legislation. If a proposed new law is repugnant to the Constitution, it cannot be enacted without first changing the Constitution by a constitutional referendum. The Constitution consists of two main parts. It describes:
Read more about how an amendment of the Constitution is made and what happens in Ireland where unconstitutional legislation and decisions arise.
Language
Related Documents
- Constitutional Referendum in Ireland
A Constitutional Referendum in Ireland occurs each time the Government wishes to change or amend the Constitution. - Local government in Ireland
The provision for local Government in Ireland is set down in law. How the process of government at local level in Ireland works and what it consists of. - Political system at national level
This document describes the way in which the political system operates at National Level, including an outline of the Oireachtas. It also contains an explanation of the political terms used.
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If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.