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The Constitution of Latvia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

James K. Pollock Jr.
James K. Pollock Jr.*
Affiliation:
Harvard University
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Extract

Following the lead of other recently created nations of Europe, Latvia has promulgated a constitution. This new republic came into the world of nations on November 18,1918, when it proclaimed its independence, although its government was not formally recognized by the United States until July 27, 1922. One year previous to this, on September 22, 1921, Latvia became a member of the League of Nations. After the independence of Latvia had been proclaimed, a constituent assembly was convened, and it was this body which drew up the new constitution. It was adopted February 15, 1922, and became law on June 30. Elections under the new organic law were held October 7 and 8, and the newly elected parliament met November 7 of the same year.

Type
Foreign Governments and Politics
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , August 1923 , pp. 446 - 448
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1923

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References

2 An English translation of the constitution of Latvia, appeared in Current History, XVII, 486–489 (Dec., 1922).Google Scholar It is a very free translation and is not without inaccuracies. The following changes based on an official translation furnished by the Latvian legation, should be noted. The introductory sentence is omitted: “The people of Latvia, through their freely-elected Constituent Assembly, have adopted the following Constitution.” Also in Article 73 after the words “conclusion of peace” the following words should be inserted: “proclamation and termination of the state of exceptional law.” Article 85 should read: “In Latvia shall exist courts of law, with juries, on the basis of a special law.” Other minor changes could be mentioned but they are unimportant. The constitution in the original can be found in Collection of Laws and Government Orders, No. 12, August 7, 1922 (Latvia).

3 In the Berlin Vorwärts of October 24, 1922, the result of the election to the first Lettish Parliament is given.

4 In Latvia there is very little reason why racial or religious difficulties should arise, since the large majority of the population are Letts and belong to the Lutheran Church.

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