Iraq constitution final draft revisions [AP] News
Iraq constitution final draft revisions [AP]

Revisions to the "final" (Sept. 18) version of the Iraqi draft constitution, as agreed by Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni negotiators on October 11, 2005. Articles translated by the Associated Press:

NEW: Article 1:

The Republic of Iraq is a single, independent federal state with full sovereignty. Its system of government is republican, representative (parliamentary) and democratic. This Constitution is the guarantor of its unity

OLD: Article 1:

The Republic of Iraq is an independent sovereign state. Its system of government is republican, representative (parliamentary), democratic and federal.

NEW: Article 3:

Iraq is a country of many nationalities, religions and sects and is a founding and active member of the Arab League and is committed to its covenant. Iraq is a part of the Islamic world.

OLD: Article 3:

Iraq is a country of many nationalities, religions and sects, and is a part of the Islamic world, is a founding and active member of the Arab League, and is committed to its covenant.

NEW: Article 4, Clause 3

The federal institutions and agencies in the Kurdistan region shall use the Arabic and Kurdish languages.

OLD: Article 4, Clause 3:

The federal institutions and agencies in the Kurdistan region shall use both languages.

NEW: Article 18, Clauses 1 and 2.

First: Iraqi nationality is the right of every Iraqi and shall be the basis of his citizenship.

Second: An Iraqi is any person born to an Iraqi father or mother. This will regulated by law.

OLD: Article 18, Clauses 1 and 2

First: An Iraqi is any person born to an Iraqi father or mother.

Second: Iraqi nationality is the right of every Iraqi and shall be the basis of his citizenship.

NEW: Article 131, Clauses 5 and 6 [entirely new clauses]

Fifth: Membership in the defunct Baath party alone is not considered a sufficient basis for transfer to the courts. …

Sixth: The Council of Representatives will form a parliamentary committee from its members to oversee and review the executive activities of the Supreme De-Baathification Commission and state agencies to guarantee justice, objectivity and transparency …

NEW: Article to be inserted between Articles 137 and 138 [entirely new article]

At the start of its functioning, the Council of Representatives shall form a committee from its members, which will be representative of the main components of Iraqi society and the duty of which will be to (make) … recommendations for the necessary amendments that can be made to the Constitution….The articles amended by the Council of Representatives … will be put before the people for a referendum within two months of the Council of Representatives' approval of them.

Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

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 Topic: Iraqi Constitution | Op-ed: The Iraqi Constitution: What Would Approval Really Mean?
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