Article 1.
The Republic of Armenia is a sovereign,
democratic, social, rule-of-law state.
Article 2.
In the Republic of Armenia authority
belongs to the people. The people exercise their authority through free
elections and referenda, as well as through state and local self-governing
bodies and official persons as provided in the Constitution. The seizure
of authority by any organization or individual is a crime.
Article 3.
Elections of the President of the
Republic of Armenia, the National Assembly (Azgayin Zhoghov), and local
self- governing bodies, as well as referenda, occur by secret ballot on
the basis of a general, equal and direct right to vote.
Article 4.
The state provides for the protection
of human rights and freedoms based on the Constitution and laws in accordance
with the principles and norms of international law.
Article 5.
State authority is exercised in
accordance with the Constitution and laws based on the principle of the
separation of the legislative, executive and judicial powers. State bodies
and officials are competent to perform only those activities that they
are authorized [to perform] by legislation.
Article 6.
The primacy of the law is guaranteed
in the Republic of Armenia. The Constitution of the Republic has the highest
legal force and its norms operate directly. Laws found to contradict the
Constitution as well as other legal acts found to contradict the Constitution
and the law have no legal force. The laws take effect only after official
publication. Unpublished legal acts concerning human rights, freedoms and
duties have no legal force. International treaties made in the name of
the Republic of Armenia take effect only after ratification. International
treaties that have been ratified are a constituent part of the legal system
of the Republic. If norms are provided for in them other than those provided
for by laws, then the norms of the agreement are applied. International
agreements that contradict the Constitution can be ratified after making
a corresponding amendment to the Constitution.
Article 7.
A multi-party system is recognized
in the Republic of Armenia. Parties are formed freely and assist in the
formation and expression of the people's political will. Their activity
cannot contradict the Constitution and the laws, nor can their structure
and way of working contradict the principles of democracy. Parties provide
for the openness of their financial activity.
Article 8.
The right to property is recognized
and protected in the Republic of Armenia. The owner at his discretion possesses,
uses and controls the property belonging to him. The exercise of the right
to property must not cause damage to the environment or violate the rights
and legal interests of other persons, society and the state. The state
guarantees the free development and equal legal protection of all types
of property, freedom of economic activity and free economic competition.
Article 9.
The foreign policy of the Republic
of Armenia is exercised in accordance with the norms of international law
with the goal of establishing good-neighborly, mutually-beneficial relations
with all states.
Article 10.
The state provides for the preservation
and reproduction of the environment and the rational use of natural resources.
Article 11.
Historical and cultural monuments
and other cultural valuables are under the care and protection of the state.
The Republic of Armenia with the framework of the principles and norms
of international law assists the preservation of Armenian historical and
cultural valuables located in other states and the development of Armenian
educational and cultural life.
Article 12.
The state language of the Republic
of Armenia is Armenian.
Article 13.
The flag of the Republic of Armenia
is a tricolor with equal red, blue, and orange horizontal strips. The coat
of arms of the Republic of Armenia is: in the center on a shield are depicted
Mount Ararat with Noah's ark and the coats of arms of four kingdoms of
historical Armenia. An eagle and a lion hold up the shield and below
the shield are depicted a sword, a sheaf of stalks, a chain and a ribbon.
The anthem of the Republic of Armenia is "Our Fatherland". The capital
of the Republic of Armenia is Yerevan.
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