Source: https://president.ee/en/republic-of-estonia/the-constitution/index.html
Timestamp: 2019-10-14 16:54:55
Document Index: 251805527

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 68', '§ 104', '§ 8', '§ 11', '§ 20', '§ 22', '§ 23', '§ 24', '§ 25', '§ 27', '§ 28', '§ 36', '§ 40', '§ 41', '§ 49', '§ 51']

Constitution of the Republic of Estonia | President
08. FINANCE AND THE NATIONAL BUDGET
11. THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE
12. THE CHANCELLOR OF JUSTICE
14. LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
15. AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION
Friday, 15 July 2016 09:37
With unwavering faith and a steadfast will to strengthen and develop the state which embodies the inextinguishable right of the people of Estonia to national self-determination and which was proclaimed on 24 February 1918, which is founded on liberty, justice and the rule of law, which is created to protect the peace and defend the people against aggression from the outside, and which forms a pledge to present and future generations for their social progress and welfare, which must guarantee the preservation of the Estonian people, the Estonian language and the Estonian culture through the ages, the people of Estonia, on the basis of § 1 of the Constitution which entered into force in 1938, and in the referendum held on 28 June 1992, have adopted the following Constitution.
The land, territorial waters and airspace of Estonia constitute an inseparable and indivisible whole.
Governmental authority is exercised solely pursuant to the Constitution and laws which are in conformity therewith. Generally recognised principles and rules of international law are an inseparable part of the Estonian legal system.
The activities of the Riigikogu2, the President of the Republic, the Government of the Republic, and the courts are organised in accordance with the principles of separation and balance of powers.
The natural wealth and resources of Estonia are national riches which must be used economically.
The national colours of Estonia are blue, black and white. The design of the national flag and the national coat of arms is provided by law.
The rights, freedoms and duties of all persons and of everyone, as set out in the Constitution, apply equally to citizens of Estonia and to citizens of foreign states and stateless persons in Estonia.
Rights and freedoms may only be circumscribed in accordance with the Constitution. Such circumscription must be necessary in a democratic society and may not distort the nature of the rights and freedoms circumscribed.
Everyone is entitled to protection by the government and of the law. The Estonian government also protects its citizens abroad.
It is the duty of the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and of local authorities, to guarantee the rights and freedoms provided in the Constitution.
Everyone whose rights and freedoms have been violated has the right of recourse to the courts. Everyone is entitled to petition the court that hears his or her case to declare unconstitutional any law, other legislative instrument, administrative decision or measure which is relevant in the case.
Everyone has the right to life. The right to life is protected by the law. No one may be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life.
No one's honour or good name may be defamed.
Everyone who has been deprived of his or her liberty must be informed promptly, in a language and manner which he or she understands, of the reason for the deprivation of liberty and of his or her rights, and be given an opportunity to notify those closest to him or her. A person suspected of a criminal offence must also be promptly given an opportunity to choose a counsel and to confer with him or her. The right of a person suspected of a criminal offence to notify those closest to him or her of the deprivation of liberty may be circumscribed only in the cases and pursuant to a procedure provided by law to prevent a criminal offence or in the interests of ascertaining the truth in a criminal case.
No one may be deemed guilty of a criminal offence before he or she has been convicted in a court and before the conviction has become final.
No one may be convicted of an act which did not constitute a criminal offence under the law in force at the time the act was committed.
No one may be transferred, against his or her free will, from the jurisdiction of a court specified by law to the jurisdiction of another court.
Everyone is entitled to compensation for intangible as well as tangible harm that he or she has suffered because of the unlawful actions of any person.
Everyone is entitled to inviolability of his or her private and family life. Government agencies, local authorities, and their officials may not interfere with any person's private or family life, except in the cases and pursuant to a procedure provided by law to protect public health, public morality, public order or the rights and freedoms of others, to prevent a criminal offence, or to apprehend the offender.
Everyone is entitled to protection of his or her health.
Every citizen of Estonia is entitled to freely choose his or her area of activity, profession and position of employment. The law may provide conditions and procedures for the exercise of this right. Unless otherwise provided by law, citizens of foreign states and stateless persons in Estonia enjoy this right equally with citizens of Estonia.
Recruitment to positions in government agencies and local authorities takes place among citizens of Estonia in accordance with the law and pursuant to the procedure established by law. Citizens of foreign states and stateless persons may be recruited to such positions as an exception provided this is allowed by the law.
Citizens of Estonia have the right to engage in entrepreneurial activity and to form commercial associations and federations. The law may provide conditions and procedures that circumscribe the exercise of this right. Unless otherwise provided by law, citizens of foreign states and stateless persons in Estonian territory enjoy this right equally with citizens of Estonia.
The property of every person is inviolable and equally protected. Property may be taken from the owner without his or her consent only in the public interest, in the cases and pursuant to a procedure provided by law, and for fair and immediate compensation. Everyone whose property has been taken from him or her without his or her consent has the right to bring an action in the courts to contest the taking of the property, the compensation, or the amount of the compensation.
The home is inviolable. No one's dwelling or other premises lawfully occupied by him or her, or his or her workplace may be forcibly entered or searched, except in the cases and pursuant to a procedure provided by law to protect public order, public health or the rights and freedoms of others, to prevent a criminal offence, to apprehend the offender, or to ascertain the truth in a criminal case.
Everyone whose presence in Estonian territory is lawful has the right to move freely in that territory and to choose freely where to reside. The right to freedom of movement may be circumscribed in the cases and pursuant to a procedure which is provided by law to protect the rights and freedoms of others, in the interests of national defence, in the case of a natural disaster or a catastrophe, to prevent the spread of an infectious disease, to protect the natural environment, to ensure that a minor or a person of unsound mind does not remain unsupervised, or to ensure the proper conduct of a criminal case.
Everyone has the right to leave Estonia. This right may be circumscribed in the cases and pursuant to a procedure provided by law to ensure the proper conduct of a trial or of a pre-trial investigation, or to enforce a court judgment.
No citizen of Estonia may be expelled from Estonia or prevented from settling in Estonia.
Science and art and their teachings are free.
The rights of an author in respect of his or her work are inalienable. The national government protects authors' rights.
Everyone is entitled to freedom of conscience, freedom of religion and freedom of thought.
Everyone has the right to abide by his or her opinions and beliefs. No one may be compelled to change his or her opinions or beliefs.
Government agencies, local authorities, and their officials may not gather or store information about the beliefs of a citizen of Estonia against the citizen's free will.
Everyone has the right to confidentiality of messages sent or received by him or her by post, telegraph, telephone or other commonly used means. Derogations from this right may be made in the cases and pursuant to a procedure provided by law if they are authorised by a court and if they are necessary to prevent a criminal offence, or to ascertain the truth in a criminal case.
Everyone is entitled to free access to information disseminated for public use.
Pursuant to a procedure provided by law, any citizen of Estonia is entitled to access information about himself or herself held by government agencies and local authorities and in government and local authority archives. This right may be circumscribed pursuant to law to protect the rights and freedoms of others, to protect the confidentiality of a child's filiation, and in the interests of preventing a criminal offence, apprehending the offender, or of ascertaining the truth in a criminal case.
Everyone has the right to address informational letters and petitions to government agencies, local authorities, and their officials. The procedure for responding to such letters and petitions is provided by law.
Everyone has the right to assemble peacefully and to conduct meetings without prior permission. This right may be circumscribed in the cases and pursuant to a procedure provided by law to safeguard national security, maintain public order, uphold public morality, ensure the safety of traffic and the safety of participants of the meeting, or to prevent the spread of an infectious disease.
Everyone has the right to form non-profit associations and federations. Only citizens of Estonia may belong to political parties.
Everyone has the right to preserve his or her ethnic identity.
National minorities have the right, in the interests of their culture, to establish self-governing agencies under such conditions and pursuant to such procedure as are provided in the National Minorities Cultural Autonomy Act.
Citizens of foreign states and stateless persons in Estonia are required to observe the constitutional order of Estonia.
Any citizen of Estonia who has attained eighteen years of age is eligible to vote.
Participation in elections may be circumscribed by law in the case of citizens of Estonia who have been convicted by a court and are serving a sentence in a penal institution.
Legislative authority is vested in the Riigikogu.
The mandate of members of the Riigikogu commences on the day the results of the election are announced. The mandate of members of the preceding Riigikogu terminates on the same day.
A member of the Riigikogu is not bound by his or her mandate, and may not bear legal liability for any vote cast or any political statement made by him or her in the Riigikogu or in any of its bodies.
A member of the Riigikogu may not hold any other governmental office.
The mandate of a member of the Riigikogu is suspended upon his or her appointment as member of the Government of the Republic, and is restored upon his or her release from the duties of a member of the Government of the Republic.
The Riigikogu:
The first sitting of a new Riigikogu is held within ten days after announcement of the results of an election of the Riigikogu. The first sitting of the new Riigikogu is convened by the President.
Regular sessions of the Riigikogu last from the second Monday of January to the third Thursday of June, and from the second Monday of September to the third Thursday of December.
Extraordinary sessions of the Riigikogu are convened by the President of the Riigikogu, acting on a proposal from the President, the Government of the Republic, or at least one fifth of the members of the Riigikogu.
From among its members the Riigikogu elects a president and two vice-presidents who preside over the work of the Riigikogu pursuant to the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure Act and the Riigikogu Standing Orders Act.
The quorum for the Riigikogu is provided in the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure Act. In an extraordinary session, the Riigikogu is competent to act provided more than one half of the members are in attendance.
The Riigikogu forms committees.
Sessions of the Riigikogu are public, unless the Riigikogu determines otherwise by a two thirds majority.
Unless otherwise prescribed in the Constitution, legislation in the Riigikogu is passed by a majority of votes cast.
Any member of the Riigikogu has the right to put questions to the Government of the Republic and its members, to the Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Estonia, the President of the Bank of Estonia, the Auditor General and the Chancellor of Justice.
The remuneration of members of the Riigikogu and restrictions concerning receipt of income from other employment is provided by law, and may only be amended in respect of the next Riigikogu.
Members of the Riigikogu are immune from prosecution. Criminal charges against a member may only be brought on a proposal of the Chancellor of Justice and with the consent of a majority of the members of the Riigikogu.
The President is the head of state of Estonia.
5) makes proposals to the Speaker of the Riigikogu to convene an extraordinary session of the Riigikogu pursuant to § 68 of the Constitution;
The President is elected by secret ballot. Each member of the Riigikogu has one vote. The candidate who receives the votes of two thirds of the members of the Riigikogu is deemed elected. If no candidate receives the required majority, a new round of voting is held on the next day. Before the new round of voting, a new nomination of candidates takes place. If no candidate receives the required majority in the second round of voting, a third round of voting is held on the same day between the two candidates who received the greatest number of votes in the second round. If the President is not selected in the third round of voting, the Electoral College is convened by the Speaker of the Riigikogu within one month to select the President.
The President is elected for a term of five years. No one may be elected to the office of the President for more than two consecutive terms.
The President assumes office by swearing the following oath of office to the people of Estonia before the Riigikogu: 'In assuming the office of President, I (given name and surname), solemnly swear to steadfastly defend the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Estonia, to exercise the authority entrusted to me in a just and impartial manner, and to perform my duties faithfully, to the best of my abilities and to the best of my understanding, for the benefit of the people of Estonia and the Republic of Estonia.'
The authority of the President terminates:
If the Supreme Court finds that the President is incapable of performing his or her duties for an indeterminate period or if he or she is temporarily unable to perform them in the cases specified by law, or if his or her authority has terminated before the end of his or her term of office, his or her duties are temporarily assumed by the Speaker of the Riigikogu.
During the time that the Speaker of the Riigikogu performs the duties of the President, his or her authority as a member of the Riigikogu is suspended.
The Speaker of the Riigikogu, acting for the President, may not, without the consent of the Supreme Court, call an extraordinary election of the Riigikogu or refuse to promulgate a law.
Upon assuming the office of the President, the authority and duties of the incumbent in all elected or appointed offices previously held by him or her are terminated, and he or she suspends his or her membership in any political party for the duration of his or her term of office.
Criminal charges may be brought against the President only on the proposal of the Chancellor of Justice, and with the consent of a majority of the members of the Riigikogu.
Executive authority is vested in the Government of the Republic.
1) carries out the nation's domestic and foreign policy;
8) in the case of a natural disaster or a catastrophe, or to prevent the spread of an infectious disease, declares a state of emergency in the entire national territory or a part thereof;
The Government of the Republic comprises the Prime Minister and ministers.
Any changes in the membership of the Government of the Republic which has assumed office are made by the President on a proposal of the Prime Minister.
The Government of the Republic assumes office by taking the oath of office before the Riigikogu.
The Government of the Republic resigns upon:
The Prime Minister represents and presides over the Government of the Republic.
To administer the various spheres of government, corresponding ministries are established by law.
The Government of the Republic is assisted by the Government Office, which is led by the State Secretary.
Meetings of the Government of the Republic are held in camera unless the Government decides otherwise.
The Riigikogu may, by a resolution carried by a majority of its members, express no confidence in the Government of the Republic, the Prime Minister, or a minister.
When the Riigikogu has expressed no confidence in a minister, the Speaker of the Riigikogu notifies this to the President, who releases the minister from office.
The Government of the Republic may declare the passage of a Bill that it has introduced in the Riigikogu to be a matter of confidence.
Members of the Government of the Republic may not hold any other governmental office, or belong to the management board or supervisory board of a commercial enterprise.
Members of the Government of the Republic may participate in sittings of the Riigikogu and of its committees with the right to speak.
Criminal charges may only be brought against a member of the Government of the Republic on the proposal of the Chancellor of Justice, and with the consent of a majority of the members of the Riigikogu.
Laws are passed in accordance with the Constitution.
The right to initiate a Bill rests with the following:
The procedure for the passage of laws is provided in the Riigikogu Procedure Act.
The Riigikogu has the right to submit a Bill or other issue of national importance to a referendum.
Issues regarding the budget, taxation, financial obligations of the national government, ratification and denunciation of international treaties, the declaration or termination of a state of emergency, or national defence may not be submitted to a referendum.
Laws are promulgated by the President.
Laws enter into force on the tenth day following their publication in the Riigi Teataja unless they contain a contrary provision.
If the Riigikogu is unable to convene, the President may, in matters of national urgency, issue decrees which have the force of law and which have been countersigned by the Speaker of the Riigikogu and the Prime Minister.
The Constitution, the Acts listed in § 104 of the Constitution, laws which establish national taxes, and the national budget may not be enacted, amended or repealed by a decree of the President.
The Bank of Estonia has exclusive right to issue Estonian currency. The Bank of Estonia administers the circulation and upholds the stability of the currency.
The Bank of Estonia carries out its duties pursuant to the law and reports to the Riigikogu.
National taxes, encumbrances, fees, fines and compulsory insurance payments are established by law.
The procedure for possession, use and dispositions of public assets is provided by law.
For each year the Riigikogu passes a law which contains a budget that sets out all items of government revenue and expenditure.
If an amendment proposal to the national budget or to a Bill for the budget has the effect of decreasing estimated revenue or increasing expenditure or reallocating expenditure, the maker of the proposal must append to the amendment financial calculations which demonstrate the sources of revenue necessary to cover the expenditure.
The procedure for the drafting and passage of the national budget is provided by law.
The national budget passed by the Riigikogu enters into force at the beginning of the financial year. If the Riigikogu does not pass the national budget by the beginning of the financial year, expenditure in the amount of up to one twelfth of the appropriations for the preceding financial year may be authorised each month.
If the Riigikogu has not passed the national budget within two months following the beginning of the financial year, the President calls an extraordinary election of the Riigikogu.
The procedure for the conduct of relations between the Republic of Estonia and other states and between the Republic of Estonia and international organisations is provided by law.
The Riigikogu ratifies and denounces treaties of the Republic of Estonia:
The land border of Estonia is determined by the Tartu Peace Treaty of 2 February 1920 and by other international border agreements. The sea and air borders of Estonia are determined on the basis of relevant international conventions.
Citizens of Estonia have a duty to participate in national defence in accordance with the principles and procedure provided by the law.
A person in active service may not hold another elected or appointed office, or participate in the activities of any political party.
The organisation of national defence is provided in the Peace-Time National Defence Act and the War-Time National Defence Act.
In the case of a threat to the Estonian constitutional order, the Riigikogu may, acting on a proposal of the President or of the Government of the Republic and by a majority of its members, declare a state of emergency in the entire national territory for a period not exceeding three months.
In a state of emergency or a state of war, the rights and freedoms of individuals may be circumscribed and duties may be imposed upon individuals in the interests of national security and public order under conditions and pursuant to a procedure provided by law. The rights and freedoms enshrined in § 8, §§ 11‑18, paragraph 3 of § 20, § 22, § 23, paragraphs 2 and 4 of § 24, § 25, § 27, § 28, paragraph 2 of § 36, § 40, § 41, § 49 and paragraph 1 of § 51 of the Constitution may not be circumscribed.
The Riigikogu, the President, and representative bodies of local authorities may not be elected, nor may their authority be terminated during a state of emergency or a state of war.
The National Audit Office is a public body that carries out performance and financial audits concerning public spending and that is independent in discharging its duties.
The National Audit Office audits:
The National Audit Office is headed by the Auditor General who is appointed to and released from office by the Riigikogu on a proposal of the President.
As part of debate on the report on implementation of the national budget in the Riigikogu, the Auditor General presents to the Riigikogu an overview of the use and preservation of public assets during the preceding financial year.
The Auditor General may participate in meetings of the Government of the Republic, in which matters related to his or her duties are discussed, with the right to speak.
The organisation of the National Audit Office is provided by law.
Criminal charges may be brought against the Auditor General only on the proposal of the Chancellor of Justice, and with the consent of a majority of the members of the Riigikogu.
The Chancellor of Justice is a public official who scrutinises legislative instruments of the legislative and executive branch of government and of local authorities for conformity with the Constitution and the laws, and who is independent in discharging his or her duties.
The Chancellor of Justice is appointed to office by the Riigikogu for a term of seven years on a recommendation of the President.
As head of his or her office, the Chancellor of Justice has the same authority that is granted by law to a minister of the Government of the Republic for administering his or her ministry.
If the Chancellor of Justice finds that a legislative instrument passed by the legislative or executive branch of government or by a local authority is in conflict with the Constitution or a law, he or she makes a proposal to the body which passed the instrument to bring it into conformity with the Constitution or the law within twenty days.
The Chancellor of Justice presents an annual report to the Riigikogu on the conformity of legislation passed by the legislative and executive branch of government and by local authorities with the Constitution and the laws.
The legal status of the Chancellor of Justice and the organisation of his or her office are to be provided by law.
Criminal charges may be brought against the Chancellor of Justice only on the proposal of the President, and with the consent of a majority of the members of the Riigikogu.
Justice is administered exclusively by the courts. The courts are independent in discharging their duties and administer justice in accordance with the Constitution and the laws.
Judges are appointed for life. The grounds and procedure for release of judges from office are provided by law.
The court system consists of:
County and city courts and administrative courts are courts of first instance.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed to office by the Riigikogu on a recommendation of the President.
The rules of court procedure regarding representation, defence, public prosecution, and oversight of legality are to be provided by law.
When determining a case, the courts refuse to give effect to a law or other legislation or administrative decision that is in conflict with the Constitution.
Criminal charges may be brought against a judge during his or her term of office only on a proposal of the Supreme Court, and with the consent of the President.
All local matters are determined and administered by local authorities, who discharge their duties autonomously in accordance with the law.
The representative body of a local authority is its council which is elected in a free election for a term of four years. The term of office of a council may be reduced by law due to a merger or division of local authorities or to inability of the council to act. Elections of local authority councils are general, uniform and direct. Voting is secret.
In elections to local authority councils, the right to vote is held, pursuant to conditions prescribed by law, by persons who reside permanently in the territory of the local authority and have attained eighteen years of age. [RT I 2003, 29, 174 - entry into force 17.10.2005]
A local authority has an independent budget which is drawn up in accordance with the principles and procedure provided by law.
The administrative area of a local authority may not be changed without hearing the opinion of the authority.
A local authority has the right to form associations and establish joint agencies with other local authorities.
The organisation of work of local authorities and oversight of their activities is provided by law.
The right to initiate amendments to the Constitution rests with not less than one fifth of the members of the Riigikogu and with the President.
Chapter I (General Provisions) and Chapter XV (Amendment of the Constitution) of the Constitution may only be amended by referendum.
The Constitution may only be amended by an Act which has been passed by:
In order to submit a Bill to amend the Constitution to a referendum, a three fifths majority of the members of the Riigikogu is required. The referendum may not be held earlier than three months after the passage of a resolution to this effect by the Riigikogu.
In order to amend the Constitution by two successive memberships of the Riigikogu, a Bill to amend the Constitution must be supported by a majority of the members of the Riigikogu.
A resolution to consider a Bill to amend the Constitution a matter of urgency must be passed by a four fifths majority. If this is the case, the Bill to amend the Constitution is passed by a two thirds majority of the members of the Riigikogu.
The Act to Amend the Constitution is promulgated by the President and enters into force on the date specified therein, but not earlier than three months from the date of promulgation.