Tarnovo Constitution

Tarnovo Constitution
Tarnovo Constitution
	Front cover of the Tarnovo Constitution
Overview
Original title	Търновска конституция
Jurisdiction	Bulgaria
Date effective	16 April 1879 (O.S.)
Repealed	4 December 1947
Author(s)	Constituent Assembly

The Tarnovo Constitution (Bulgarian: Търновска конституция) was the first constitution of Bulgaria.^[1]^[2]^[3]

It was adopted on 16 April 1879 (O.S.) by the Constituent National Assembly held in Veliko Tarnovo as part of the establishment of the Principality of Bulgaria. It remained the fundamental law of Bulgaria after the country was elevated to a kingdom in 1908.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Based on the Belgian charter of 1831,^[7] The Constitution was liberal in character and was considered advanced for its time.^[1] It defined the function and competence of the central organs of state authority according to the principle of separation of powers among an executive, a legislative, and a judiciary branch. It provided for ministerial responsibility, immunity of the deputies, and inviolability of private property. The constitution included a clause that formally established the Bulgarian Orthodox Church as the official religion of the nation, although people of other religions were considered equal to those who followed the official faith.

With amendments in 1893 and 1911 that strengthened royal power, the Tarnovo Constitution remained in use until 4 December 1947, when it was replaced by the Dimitrov Constitution.

^ ^a ^b Bourchier, James David (1911). "Bulgaria/History" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 04 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 779–784, see page 782. The Constitution of Trnovo...
^ Detrez, Raymond (2006). "TÛRNOVO CONSTITUTION". Historical Dictionary of Bulgaria (2nd ed.). Lanham, Maryland; Toronto; Oxford: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. pp. 448–449.
^ "Turkey No. 8, Constitution of the Principality of Bulgaria". Parliamentary Papers. Vol. LXXX. London. 1879.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ "Конституция на българското княжество (законъ от 16 априлий 1879)", Сборник на действующите съдебни закони на княжеството (1878-1906), София: Официално издание на Министерството на Правосъдието, 1906, retrieved 2012-12-28
^ Hertslet, Edward (1891), "Constitution of the Principality of Bulgaria, Tirnovo 16/28 April 1879", The Map of Europe by Treaty; which have taken place since the general peace of 1814. With numerous maps and notes, vol. IV (1875-1891) (First ed.), London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, pp. 2866–2869, retrieved 2012-12-25
^ "CONSTITUTION de Principaute de Bulgarie. - Tirnovo, April 16/28, 1879". British and foreign state papers 1878 - 1879 (in French). Vol. 70. London. 1886. pp. 1303 - 1318. Retrieved 16 April 2024 – via HathiTrust.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Evgeni Tanchev, Martin Belov, Cristian Ionescu et al., Constitutional Law of 2 EU Member States: Bulgaria and Romania, p. I-8. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer, 2008. ISBN 978-901-3056-35-8

[EB1911-1] Bourchier, James David (1911). "Bulgaria/History" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 04 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 779–784, see page 782. The Constitution of Trnovo...

[2] Detrez, Raymond (2006). "TÛRNOVO CONSTITUTION". Historical Dictionary of Bulgaria (2nd ed.). Lanham, Maryland; Toronto; Oxford: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. pp. 448–449.

[3] "Turkey No. 8, Constitution of the Principality of Bulgaria". Parliamentary Papers. Vol. LXXX. London. 1879.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[4] "Конституция на българското княжество (законъ от 16 априлий 1879)", Сборник на действующите съдебни закони на княжеството (1878-1906), София: Официално издание на Министерството на Правосъдието, 1906, retrieved 2012-12-28

[5] Hertslet, Edward (1891), "Constitution of the Principality of Bulgaria, Tirnovo 16/28 April 1879", The Map of Europe by Treaty; which have taken place since the general peace of 1814. With numerous maps and notes, vol. IV (1875-1891) (First ed.), London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, pp. 2866–2869, retrieved 2012-12-25

[6] "CONSTITUTION de Principaute de Bulgarie. - Tirnovo, April 16/28, 1879". British and foreign state papers 1878 - 1879 (in French). Vol. 70. London. 1886. pp. 1303 - 1318. Retrieved 16 April 2024 – via HathiTrust.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[7] Evgeni Tanchev, Martin Belov, Cristian Ionescu et al., Constitutional Law of 2 EU Member States: Bulgaria and Romania, p. I-8. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer, 2008. ISBN 978-901-3056-35-8

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