In 1937, the year after george vs death, the free state adopted a new constitution which changed the states name to ireland or eire and removed all mention of the monarch. The current constitution of ireland came into effect on 29 december 1937, repealing and replacing the constitution of the irish free state, having been approved. Since that time the constitution has been amended on a number of occasions after being put to the people for approval. Every part of the constitution is set out in both the irish and english languages. There were two main motivations for replacing the constitution in 1937. The constitution of ireland replaced the constitution of the irish free state which had been in effect since the independence, as a dominion, of the irish state from the united kingdom on 6 december 1922. Irelands constitution of 1937 with amendments through.
Bunreacht na heireann came into force on 29 december 1937 after having been passed by a national plebiscite the previous july. As amended they grant the right to be part of the irish nation to all those people born on the island of ireland. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the comparative constitutions project, and distributed on. The writing of the irish free state constitution was only made possible. First amendment of the constitution act, 1939 extended to conflicts in which the state is not a participant the provision for a state of emergency to secure the public safety and preservation of the state in time of war or armed rebellion. The constitution is the second constitution of independent ireland and replaced the constitution of the irish free state. Articles 2 and 3 of the constitution of ireland wikipedia. The current constitution of ireland came into effect on 29 december 1937, repealing and replacing the constitution of the irish free state, having been approved in a national plebiscite on 1 july 1937 with the support of 56. Bunreacht na h eireann constitution of ireland dachtaigh an pobal an 1 iuil, 1937 enacted by the people 1st july, 1937 i ngniomh on 29 nollaig, 1937 in operation as from 29th december, 1937. The 1937 constitution introduced some irishlanguage terms into english, such as. Irelands constitution of 1937 with amendments through 2015.
The influence of the postwar european constitutions on the. In the name of the most holy trinity, from whom is all authority. The name of the state is eire, or, in the english language. Firstly, the statute of westminster 1931 granted parliamentary autonomy to the six british dominions now known as. This article is relevant to the from free state to republic element of topic 3 the pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 19121949 of the later modern ireland field of study 18151989 of the. Treaty brought an end to centuries of revolutionary struggle in ireland and provided for the. Irelands constitution of 1937 with amendments through 2012. Fourth amendment of the constitution act, 1972reduced the minimum voting age at dail and presidential elections and referendums from 21 years to 18 years. A history of ireland in 250 episodes by jonathan bardon. Article 2 and article 3 of the constitution of ireland irish. Keogh, the jesuits and the 1937 constitution, studies 78 309 1989. Constitution of ireland original text wikisource, the.
It was put to a public plebiscite on 1st july 1937 and was passed by a slim majority of 56%. The constitution of ireland is the fundamental law of ireland. In april 1949, ireland was declared a republic, with the description of the republic of ireland, and it left the commonwealth of nations. Irish free state saorstat eireann constitution act aus britischer sicht. Bunreacht na heireann the irish constitution is the fundamental legal document.