The Constitution of Lebanon was adopted on 23 May 1926. Initiated during the French Mandate, it established a governance model based on confessionalism to accommodate Lebanon's religious communities.

Post-independence, the constitution underwent significant modifications, highlighted by changes including the 1943 National Pact and further refined by the 1989 Taif Agreement, with the latter aimed at resolving the 15-year Lebanese Civil War. However, Mount Lebanon was an exception to the Ottoman constitution due to its status given by foreign powers, and did not participate in the “constitutional experiments” of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1925, French Mandate authorities began the process for writing a constitution. The process for the constitution involved negotiation between two parties, neither of which entirely supported a nation of Greater Lebanon: Christian isolationists wanted to establish a majority Christian nation, while Muslim unionists wanted to combine with Syria. The French, however, pushed for a multi-confessional state which would prevail and become enshrined in the constitution. Muslim Representatives would continue to reject the constitution and push for union with Syria until a 1936 treaty between France and Syria made it so Syria would give up all land claims it had in Lebanon.

Changes and amendments

In 1927, the Senate, originally a part of a bi-cameral legislative body along with the Chamber of Deputies, was abolished. This brought an end to the Lebanese Civil War that began in 1975. The Ta'if Accord introduced multiple changes to the constitution, including shifting the ratio of religious representation from a 6:5 Christian majority to 1:1 and a reduction in the powers of the president. The Ta'if Accords also shifted the centers of power within the government, with Lebanon being run by the Troika, a group of three who act as the executive branch. The Troika consists of a Maronite Christian president, a Sunni Muslim prime minister, and a Shi’ite Muslim Speaker of Parliament.

Structure of government

The government consists of three branches: the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch.

Legislative Branch

The Chamber of Deputies (House of Deputies) serves as the main legislative body in Lebanon. They have the power to ratify international treaties involving trade, approving the annual budget, and the power to legislate. This body also elects the president of the republic. The House of Deputies meets in two sessions a year, and consists of 128 members, half of whom are Christian, the other half Muslim.

Article 11, on the Official National Language, declares that "Arabic is the official national language. A law determines the cases in which the French language may be used."

In an attempt to maintain equality between Christians and Muslims, Article 24 of the constitution mandates the distribution of offices on the basis of Confessionalism as an interim measure, but does not specify how they are to be allocated. (See National Pact) It does, nevertheless, specify that half the seats shall be given to Christians and half to Muslims. Article 24 in its entirety reads as follows.

Research

A scholarly reference book on the Lebanese Constitution, describing its history and citing its full text as well as all its amendments was published in 1968 by Shafik Jiha and Wadih Chbat.

See also

  • Driving licence in Lebanon
  • History of Lebanon
  • Lebanese diaspora
  • Lebanese identity card
  • Lebanese nationality law
  • Lebanese passport
  • Politics of Lebanon
  • Vehicle registration plates of Lebanon
  • Visa policy of Lebanon
  • Visa requirements for Lebanese citizens

References

  • 1930 French version of the Constitution of Lebanon in: