Constitution of Lebanon (1990)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART ONE

FUNDAMENTAL PROVISIONS
Preamble
Chapter One: THE STATE AND ITS TERRITORY
Chapter Tow: THE LEBANESE:
Their Rights and Duties

PART TWO

POWERS
Chapter One: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter Tow: LEGISLATIVE POWER
Chapter Three: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter Four: EXECUTIVE POWER
ONE:
The President of the Republic
TWO:
The Prime Minister
THREE:
The Council of Ministers

PART THREE

A: Election of the President of the Republic
B: Amendment of the Constitution
C: Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies

PART FOUR

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
A: Supreme Council
B: Finances

PART FIVE
PROVISIONS RELATING
TO THE MANDATORY POWER
AND THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

PART SIX

FINAL AND TEMPORARY PROVISIONS

PART ONE
FUNDAMENTAL PROVISIONS

PREAMBLE

(INTRODUCED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OF SEPTEMBER 21, 1990)

A) Lebanon is a sovereign, free, and independent country. It is a final homeland for all its citizens. It is unified in its territory, people, and institutions within the boundaries defined in this constitution and recognized internationally.

B) Lebanon is Arab in its identity and in its affiliation. It is a founding and active member of the League of Arab States and abides by its pacts and covenants. Lebanon is also a founding and active member of the Unite d Nations Organization and abides by its covenants and by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Th e Government shall embody these principles in all fields and areas without exception.

C) Lebanon is a parliamentary democratic republic based on respect for public liberties, especially the freedom of opinion and belief, and respect for social justice and equality of rights and duties among all citizens without discrimination.

D) The people are the source of authority and sovereignty; they shall exercise these powers through the constitutional institutions.

E) The political system is established on the principle of separation of powers, their balance and cooperation.

F) The economic system is free and ensures pr ivate initiative and th e right of private property.

G) The even development among regions on the ed ucational, social, and economic levels shall be a basic pillar of the unity of the state and the stability of the system.

H) The abolition of political confessionalism shall be a basic national goal and shall be achieved according to a staged plan.

I) Lebanese territory is one for all Lebanese. Every Lebanese shall have the right to live in any part thereof and to enjoy the rule of law wherever he resides. There shall be no segregation of the people on th e basis of any type of belonging, and no fragmentation, partition, or settlement of non-Lebanese in Lebanon.

J) There shall be no constitutional legitimacy for any authority which contradicts the ‘pact of mutual existence.

CHAPTER ONE
THE STATE AND ITS TERRITORY

Article 1
(As amended by the constitutional law of November 9, 1943)

Lebanon is an independent, indivisible, a nd sovereign state. Its frontiers are those which now bound it:
On the North: From the mouth of Nahr Al-Kabir al ong a line following the course of this river to its point of junction with Wadi Khalid opposite Jisr Al-Qamar.
On the East: The summit line separating the Wadi Khalid and Nahr Al-Asi, passing by the villages of Mu’aysarah, Harbanah, Hayt, Ibish, Faysan to the height of the two villages of Brifa and Matraba. This line follows the north ern boundary of the Ba`alb ak District at the northeastern and south eas tern directions, then ce the eastern boundaries of the districts of Ba`albak, Biqa’, Hasbayya, and Rashayya.
On the South: The present southern boundaries of the districts of Sûr (Tyre) and Marji`yun.
On the West: The Mediterranean.

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Article 101
Beginning September 1,1929, the state of ‘Greater Lebanon’ shall be known as ‘The Lebanese Republic’ without any other change or modification.
Article 102
(As amended by the Constitutional Law of November 9, 1943)
All legislative provisions contrary to the present constitution shall be abrogated