# Constitution of Democratic Kampuchea

Source: Democratic Kampuchea: A Workers' and Peasants' State in South-East Asia. Berlin. Embassy of Democratic Kampuchea in Berlin, GDR. 1977. pp. 5–10
CONSTITUTION OF DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA
Adopted by the Third National Congress on December 14, 1975, and put into force as from January 5, 1976.
FUNDAMENTAL AND SACRED ASPIRATIONS OF THE WORKERS, PEASANTS AND OTHER LABOURERS, REVOLUTIONARY ARMY'S FIGHTERS AND CADRES OF KAMPUCHEA
Considering the preponderant part played by the people, especially by workers, poor peasants, peasants of lower-middle strata, and by other labourers, in the countryside and in the cities, who compose more than 95 per cent of the whole nation of Kampuchea and who have borne the heaviest load of the people's national liberation war, consenting unceasingly the greatest sacrifices in lives, property and feelings for the front, and sending unhesitatingly their children and their husbands to fight by tens and hundreds of thousands on the battlefield;
Considering the tremendous sacrifices consented by the three categories of the Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea who, in the blazing people's national liberation war, valiantly fought, night and day, in any season, dry or rainy, suffering all kinds of hardships and privations, lacking everything: food, medicine, clothes, ammunition;
Considering the aspirations of the whole people of Kampuchea and of the whole Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea who wish to have an independent, united, peaceful, neutral, non-aligned, sovereign Kampuchea in her territorial integrity, in a society where happiness, equality, justice and genuine democracy reign, without rich nor poor people, without oppressive nor oppressed classes, a society in which the whole people live in harmony, in the great national unity and join their efforts in productive labour, to edify and defend the country together;
Considering the Resolution of the Special National Congress held on April 25, 26 and 27th, 1975, which solemnly proclaimed its recognition and respect of the above-mentioned aspirations of the whole people and of the whole Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea;
The Constitution of Kampuchea stipulates the following:

## Chapter I – About State Administration

Article 1:
The State of Kampuchea is an independent, united, peaceful, neutral, non-aligned, sovereign and democratic State with territorial integrity.
The State of Kampuchea is the State of the workers, peasants and other labourers of Kampuchea.
The official name of the State of Kampuchea is: DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA.

## Chapter II – About Economic Administration

Article 2:
All important means of production are the collective property of the people's State and the collective property of the communally organized people.
Articles for everyday use remain the personal property of the individual.

## Chapter III – About Culture

Article 3:
The culture of Democratic Kampuchea is national, popular, progressive and wholesome, serving the tasks of defending and edifying a Kampuchea becoming more prosperous every day.

## Chapter IV – About the Principle of Direction and of Work

Article 4:
Democratic Kampuchea applies the collective principle in direction and in work.

## Chapter V – About the Legislative Power

Article 5:
The legislative power lies with the Assembly of workers, peasants and other labourers' representatives.
The official name of this Assembly is: ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES OF KAMPUCHEA.
The Assembly of the People's Representatives of Kampuchea has 250 members representing workers, peasants, other labourers and the Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea distributed as follows:
       –Representatives of peasants: 150
       –Representatives of workers and other labourers: 50
       –Representatives of the Revolutionary Army: 50
Article 6:
Members of the Assembly of the People's Representatives of Kampuchea are chosen every 5 years by the people, through general election and secret and direct vote.
Article 7:
The Assembly of the People's Representatives of Kampuchea passes laws and defines Democratic Kampuchea's internal and external political lines.

## Chapter VI – About the Executive Organ

Article 8:
The Government is an organ in charge of executing laws and implementing all political lines defined by the Assembly of the People's Representatives of Kampuchea.
The Government is designated by the Assembly of the People's Representatives of Kampuchea. It is fully responsible to this Assembly for all its activities inside and outside the country.

## Chapter VII – About the Judiciary Organ

Article 9:
Justice is exercised by the people. The people's courts represent and guarantee the people's justice, defend the people's democratic liberties and punish any act directed against the people's State or violating the laws of the people's State.
The courts of different levels are chosen and designated by the Assembly of the People's Representatives.
Article 10:
The following acts violate the laws of the people's State:
       –systematic hostile or destructive activities that endanger the people's State, receive the most severe punishment.
       –other activities, besides the above mentioned, are treated by means of reeducation within the State's or the people's organisations.

## Chapter VIII – About the Presidium of the State

Article 11:
Democratic Kampuchea has a Presidium of the State, chosen and designated every 5 years by the Assembly of the People's Representatives of Kampuchea.
The Presidium of the State is charged with representing the State of Democratic Kampuchea inside and outside the country, within the limits of the Constitution of Democratic Kampuchea and in conformity with the laws and political lines defined by the Assembly of the People's Representatives of Kampuchea.
The Presidium of the State is composed of:
       –a President
       –a first Vice-President
       –a second Vice-President.

## Chapter IX – About the Rights and Duties of Every Citizen of Kampuchea

Article 12:
Every citizen of Kampuchea has the full right to enjoy material, moral and cultural life, which is to be constantly improved. Every citizen of Kampuchea has all his means of existence fully secured.
Every worker is the master of his factory. Every peasant is the master of his ricefields and lands. All other labourers have the right to work. There exist absolutely no unemployment in Democratic Kampuchea.
Article 13:
A full equality among all citizens of Kampuchea should prevail in a society based on equality, justice, democracy, harmony, happiness, in the great national unity to defend and edify the country together.
Men and women are equal in every field. Polygamy and polyandry are prohibited.
Article 14:
Every citizen of Kampuchea has the duty to defend and edify the country in accordance with his abilities and his possibilities.

## Chapter X – About the Capital

Article 15:
The capital of Democratic Kampuchea is PHNOM PENH.

## Chapter XI – About the National Flag

Article 16:
The National Flag of Kampuchea has the following form and signification:
The ground colour is red. In the center is a design of a monument with three towers in yellow colour.
The red ground symbolizes the revolutionary movement, the resolute and valiant struggle of the people of Kampuchea for national liberation and national defense and edification.
The monument of yellow colour symbolizes the national tradition and the people of Kampuchea, defending and edifying a country more and more glorious.

## Chapter XII – About the National Armorial Bearings

Article 17:
The National Armorial Bearings are made of a system of dikes and irrigation canals symbolizing modern agriculture, and a factory symbolizing industry, enclosed within two arc-shaped sheaves of paddy, and bearing the inscription: DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA, below.

## Chapter XIII – About the National Anthem

Article 18:
The National Anthem of Democratic Kampuchea is "GLORIOUS APRIL 17th".

## Chapter XIV – About the Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea

Article 19:
The Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea with its three categories: regular, regional and guerilleros, is the Army of the People, the men and women fights and cadres are the sons and daughters of workers, peasants and other labourers. It defends the people's power in Kampuchea and defends the independent, united, peaceful, neutral, non-aligned, sovereign, democratic Kampuchea in her territorial integrity. At the same time, it takes part in the edification of a country more and more glorious and in the constant improvement of the people's standard of living which is to be more and more prosperous.

## Chapter XV – About Beliefs and Religions

Article 20:
Every citizen of Kampuchea has the right to have any belief and religion, and has the right to have neither belief nor religion.
Any reactionary religion harming Democratic Kampuchea and her people is strictly prohibited.

## Chapter XVI – About Foreign Policy

Article 21:
Democratic Kampuchea is endowed with goodwill and firmly determined to maintain close and friendly relations with all countries having common borders with her, and with all countries throughout the world, near or far, on the strict basis of mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Democratic Kampuchea abides by a policy of independence, peace, neutrality and non-alignment. No foreign country whatever is allowed to establish military bases on her territory. She stands resolutely against all foreign interference in her internal affairs and fights resolutely against all subversive and aggressive acts from outside, whether military, political, cultural, economical, social, diplomatical or presented as so-called humanitarian acts.
Democratic Kampuchea never interferes in any way in the internal affairs of other countries. She scrupulously abides by the principles that every country is sovereign and has the right to dispose and decide by itself its internal affairs without foreign interference.
Democratic Kampuchea resolutely remains in the great family of non-aligned countries.
Democratic Kampuchea does her utmost to develop her solidarity with the Third World peoples in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and with all peace- and justice-loving peoples in the world, and to foster active mutual aid and support in the struggle against imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism, for genuine independence, peace, friendship, democracy, justice and progress in the world.
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