Egyptian Constitution

Egyptian Constitution. The Egyptian Constitution is the supreme law of Egypt, adopted on January 18, 2014, after a revolution that led to the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak and the subsequent election of Mohamed Morsi as President of Egypt. The constitution was drafted by a committee consisting of Amr Moussa, Mohamed ElBaradei, and other prominent Egyptian figures, including Salafist leaders such as Yasser Borhamy and Abdel-Moneim Aboul Fotouh. The constitution has undergone several amendments, including those proposed by Adly Mansour, the Interim President of Egypt, and approved by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the current President of Egypt, in 2014.

History of the Egyptian Constitution

The history of the Egyptian Constitution dates back to the 1923 Egyptian Constitution, which was adopted after Egypt gained independence from British rule, with the help of Saad Zaghloul and the Wafd Party. The 1930 Egyptian Constitution and the 1956 Egyptian Constitution were also significant milestones, with the latter being adopted during the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser. The 1971 Egyptian Constitution was amended several times, including in 1980 and 2005, under the presidencies of Anwar El-Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, respectively, with the involvement of Mustafa Kamel Murad and Ahmed Shafik. The current constitution was adopted in 2014, after a revolution that led to the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak and the subsequent election of Mohamed Morsi as President of Egypt, with the support of Freedom and Justice Party and Muslim Brotherhood.

Preamble and Principles

The Egyptian Constitution begins with a preamble that invokes God and the principles of Social justice, equality, and Liberty, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The constitution also establishes the principles of Democracy, Sharia, and the rule of Law, as interpreted by Al-Azhar University and other Islamic institutions, such as the Islamic Research Academy. The principles of the constitution are also reflected in the Arab Charter on Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which Egypt has ratified, along with other African Union and Arab League member states, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia.

Structure and Amendments

The Egyptian Constitution consists of a preamble, 225 articles, and several amendments, including those proposed by Adly Mansour, the Interim President of Egypt, and approved by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the current President of Egypt, in 2014. The constitution establishes a Unitary state with a Presidential system, a parliamentary system, and an independent judiciary, with the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt as the highest court, composed of judges such as Maher Sami and Tahani al-Gebali. The constitution also provides for the protection of Human rights and Fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Egypt has ratified, along with other United Nations member states, including China, Russia, and United States.

Human Rights and Freedoms

The Egyptian Constitution guarantees several Human rights and Fundamental rights, including the right to Life, Liberty, and Security of person, as well as the right to Freedom of speech, Freedom of assembly, and Freedom of association, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The constitution also protects the rights of women and children, as guaranteed by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Egypt has ratified, along with other United Nations member states, including France, Germany, and Japan. The constitution also establishes the National Council for Human Rights, which is responsible for promoting and protecting Human rights in Egypt, with the support of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

System of Government

The Egyptian Constitution establishes a Unitary state with a Presidential system, a parliamentary system, and an independent judiciary, with the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt as the highest court, composed of judges such as Maher Sami and Tahani al-Gebali. The constitution also provides for the protection of Human rights and Fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Egypt has ratified, along with other United Nations member states, including India, Brazil, and South Korea. The constitution also establishes the Cabinet of Egypt, which is responsible for implementing the policies of the Government of Egypt, with the support of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense, led by Sameh Shoukry and Mohamed Ahmed Zaki, respectively. Category:Constitutions