Constitution of South Africa: Difference between revisions
imported>Shamira Gelbman (→Precursors: summary sentence for each previous constitution) |
imported>Shamira Gelbman (new section - contents) |
||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
An interim constitution was in effect from 1994 until 1996. | An interim constitution was in effect from 1994 until 1996. | ||
==Contents== | |||
Revision as of 16:24, 10 July 2009
The Constitution of South Africa is the principal governing document of the Republic of South Africa.
Precursors
The current constitution is the fifth since South Africa's 1910 founding and the second since its democratization during the 1990s.
Union constitution
The constitution of the Union of South Africa was in force from 1910 until 1961.
First republican constitution
A 1960 referendum resulted in South Africa's transition from a dominion of the British Empire to an independent republic, which brought with it the ratification of a new constitution that took effect on May 31, 1961.
Second republican constitution
The constitution of 1961 was superceded by the constitution of 1983, which sought to reform the South African political system through the creation of a tricameral parliament and a powerful State Presidency.
Interim constitution
An interim constitution was in effect from 1994 until 1996.