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Constitution of the Republic of of Uzbekistan (1992) (excerpts related to election) (English)
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
8 December 8 1992
(relevant parts)
PREAMBLE
The People of Uzbekistan,
solemnly declaring our devotion to human rights and the principles of state sovereignty,
understanding a high responsibility before present and future generations,
relying on the historical experience of the development of the Uzbek state,
affirming our fidelity to the ideals of democracy and social justice,
recognizing the primacy of generally recognized norms of international law,
endeavoring to ensure a worthy life to citizens of the republic,
setting as a goal the formation of a humanitarian democratic state operating under the rule of law, and
in order to ensure civic peace and national accord
through our authorized representatives adopt this Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
SECTION I: BASIC PRINCIPLES
CHAPTER I: STATE SOVEREIGNTY
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Article 2: The state expresses the will of the people and serves its interests. State agencies and officials are responsible before the society and citizens.
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CHAPTER II: POPULAR POWER
Article 7: The people are the only source of state power.
State power in the Republic of Uzbekistan is exercised in the interests of the people and only by agencies authorized to do so by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and legislation adopted on the basis of the Constitution.
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Article 9: The most important issues of social and state life are presented for public discussion and presented for general vote (referendum). The procedure for conducting a referendum is determined by law.
Article 10: Only Parliament (Olii Majlis) and the President of the Republic, who are chosen by the people, may act in the name of the people of Uzbekistan.
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SECTION II: BASIC RIGHTS, FREEDOMS, AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PERSON AND CITIZEN
CHAPTER VII: PERSONAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Article 29: Each person has the right of freedom of thought, speech, and belief. Each person has the right to seek, receive, and disseminate any information, with the exception of information directed against the existing constitutional order and other limitations established by law.
Freedom of opinion and the expression of opinion may be limited by law in order to safeguard state or other secrets.
Article 30: All state agencies, social associations, and officials of the Republic of Uzbekistan must provide citizens with the opportunity to examine documents, decisions, and other materials affecting their rights and freedoms.
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CHAPTER VIII: POLITICAL RIGHTS
Article 32: Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan have the right to participate in the management of the affairs of society and the state both directly and through their representatives. This participation is effected through self-government, referenda, and the democratic formation of state agencies.
Article 33: Citizens have the right to effect their social activeness in the form of protests, meetings, and demonstrations in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Agencies of power have the right to suspend or prohibit the holding of such events only for security reasons.
Article 34: Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan have the right to associate in trade unions, political parties, and other social associations, as well as to participate in popular movements.
No one may abridge the rights, freedoms, or dignity of persons who represent an opposition minority political party, social association, popular movement, or representative agency of power.
Article 35: Each person has the right, both individually and as part of a group, to submit applications, proposals, and complaints to competent state agencies or institutions, or to popular representatives.
Applications, proposals, and complaints must be reviewed according to the procedures and within the time limits established by law.
CHAPTER XIII: SOCIAL ASSOCIATIONS
Article 56: Social associations in the Republic of Uzbekistan are trade unions, political parties, academic societies, women's organizations, veterans' and youth organizations, creative unions, popular movements, and other lawfully registered associations of citizens.
Article 57: It is forbidden to form or operate political parties, as well as other social associations, that have as their goal violent change of the constitutional system; protest against the sovereignty, integrity, or security of the republic or the constitutional rights and freedoms of its citizens; advocacy of war, social, national, racial, or religious animosity; encroachment on the health or morality of the people; or that are militaristic formations or ethnically or religiously based political parties.
It is forbidden to form secret societies or associations.
Article 58: The state ensures compliance with the rights and legal interests of social associations and creates equal legal possibilities for them to participate in social life.
The intercession of state agencies and officials into the operations of social associations, in equal measure as the intercession of social associations into the operations of state agencies and officials, is not permitted.
Article 59: Trade unions express and defend the socio-economic rights and interests of workers. Membership in trade organizations is voluntary.
Article 60: Political parties express the political will of various social strata and groups, and, through their democratically elected representatives, participate in the formation of state power. Political parties must, through established procedure, present Parliament or an authorized parliamentary agency with public reports concerning their sources of funding.
Article 61: Religious organizations and associations are separate from the state and equal before the law. The state does not interfere in the activities of religious associations.
Article 62: The dissolution, prohibition, or limitation of the activities of a social association may take place only on the basis of a decision of a court of law.
CHAPTER XV: MASS MEDIA
Article 67: Mass media are not hindered and operate in accordance with the law. They are, in the established manner, responsible for the reliability of their information.
Censorship is not allowed.
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SECTION IV: THE ADMINISTRATIVE TERRITORIAL AND STATE SYSTEM
CHAPTER XVII: THE REPUBLIC OF KARAKALPAKSTAN
Article 74: The Republic of Karakalpakstan possesses the right to withdraw from the Republic of Uzbekistan on the basis of a general referendum of the people of Karakalpakstan.
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SECTION V: THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE POWER
CHAPTER XVIII: THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
Article 76: The highest state representative agency is the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which exercises the legislative power.
Article 77: The Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan consists of 150 deputies, elected from territorial electoral districts in multi-party elections for terms of five years.
Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan who have, by the date of election, reached the age of 25 years, possess the right to be elected to the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The requirements of candidates for the office of deputy are determined by law.
Article 78: The Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan has exclusive jurisdiction over:
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9) scheduling elections for the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan and local representative agencies; formation of a Central Election Commission;
10) scheduling the date for election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the expiration of his term of office;
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Article 81: At the expiration of its term of authority, the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan continues its activities up until the start of work of the newly convened Parliament.
The first session of the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan after elections convenes a Central Election Commission no later than two months after the elections.
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Article 88: A parliamentary deputy enjoys the right of immunity. She or he may not be brought to criminal responsibility, arrested, or subjected to measures of administrative penalty, imposed through judicial proceedings, without the consent of Parliament.
CHAPTER XIX: THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
Article 89: The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the head of state and of the executive branch in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is simultaneously the Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Article 90: A citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan who is not younger than thirty five years of age, who has fluent command of the state language, and who has constantly resided on the territory of Uzbekistan for no less than ten consecutive years directly prior to the election may be elected President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The same person may not be President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for more than two consecutive terms.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is elected for a term of five years by the citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the basic of general, equal, and direct electoral rights by secret ballot. The procedure for election of the President is determined by a law of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Article 91: While in office, the President may not occupy any other paid office, be a deputy in a representative agency, or engage in business activity. The person of the President is immune and is protected by law.
Article 92: The President is considered to have assumed office from the moment of his taking, at a session of the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the following oath:
"I solemnly swear to faithfully serve the people of Uzbekistan, strictly follow the Constitution and laws of the republic, guarantee the rights and freedoms of citizens, and conscientiously fulfill the obligations assigned to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan."
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Article 95: When, among its members, in the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan there arises discord which threatens its normal functioning, or it repeatedly adopts decisions contrary to the Constitution, Parliament may be disbanded by a decision of the President adopted in coordination with the Constitutional Court. In the event that Parliament is disbanded, new parliamentary elections take place within three months.
Parliament may not be disbanded while a state of emergency is in effect.
Article 96: If, for reasons of health that are confirmed by the findings of a State Medical Commission formed by Parliament, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is not able to meet her or his obligations, within ten days, at an emergency session of Parliament, from among the deputies, there is an election for an individual to, for up to three months, be Acting President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In this case, within three months, a general election for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan must be held.
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CHAPTER XX: THE CABINET OF MINISTERS
CHAPTER XXI: THE FOUNDATIONS OF LOCAL STATE POWER
Article 103: The governor of a region, district, or city exercises her or his powers according to the principle of a single source of power and is responsible for the decisions and acts of the agencies that she or he manages.
The organization of the work of and the extent of the powers of governors and local Councils of People's Deputies, and the procedures for elections of local Councils of People's Deputies, are regulated by law.
Article 104: A governor, within the confines of the powers granted to her or him, adopts decisions, compliance with which is obligatory for all enterprises, institutions, organizations, associations, officials, and citizens on the corresponding territory.
Article 105: Self-government agencies in towns, villages, and settlements, as well as in the neighborhoods (mahalla) of cities, towns, villages, and settlements are gatherings of citizens which elect for a 2.5 year term a chair (elder) and her or his advisors.
The procedures for elections for and the organization of the work of, and the extent of powers of, self-government agencies are regulated by law.
CHAPTER XXIII: THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Article 117: Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan have the right to elect and be elected to representative agencies. Each elector has one vote. The right to vote, equality of votes, and freedom of expression through voting are guaranteed by law.
Elections for the President and the representative agencies of power of the Republic of Uzbekistan are conducted on the basic of general, equal, and direct voting rights by secret ballot. Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan who have reached 18 years of age have the right to vote.
Citizens who have been declared incompetent by a court or who are imprisoned may not be elected and do not participate in elections. In any other circumstances, direct or indirect abridgment of the voting rights of citizens is not allowed.
A citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan may not simultaneously be a deputy in more than two representative agencies.
The procedure for holding elections is determined by law.
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