The Constitution of Morocco (, ) is the supreme law of the Kingdom of Morocco. It was enacted after its approval in 2011 in a constitutional referendum. The constitution defines Morocco as a constitutional monarchy and lays out the fundamental rights of Moroccan citizens, it also defines the basis and structures of government, the council of ministers, and the parliament.
The first Constitution of Morocco was adopted in 1962, 6 years after the country regained independence. From and following that event, the King Mohammed V worked for the establishment of political and constitutional institutions. The National Advisory Council originally created the legislation text governing public freedoms and freedom of expression, known as the Dahir, which was enacted on November 15, 1959. In 1960, the Constitutional Council was established, and the first Constitution was proposed on November 18, 1962. This draft was ratified through a referendum on December 7, 1962, and was finally promulgated one week later, on December 14.
2011 referendum A 2011 Moroccan constitutional referendum was held in Morocco on 1 July 2011. It was called in response to the protests that took place earlier in the year demanding democratic reforms. A commission was to draft proposals by June 2011. AFP, 9 March 2011 A draft released on 17 June foresaw the following changes:König will Teil seiner Macht abgeben Der Standard, 18 June 2011 Moroccan Islamists 'could reject constitution' AFP, 13 June 2011Morocco king to lose some powers, remain key figure Vancouver Sun, 17 June 2011 Requiring the King to name a Prime Minister from the largest party in Parliament Handing a number of rights from the monarch to the PM, including dissolution of parliament Allowing parliament to grant amnesty, previously a privilege of the monarch Making Tamazight an official language alongside Arabic
The changes were reportedly approved by 98.49% of voters. Despite protest movements calling for a boycott of the referendum, government officials claimed turnout was 72.65%.Morocco approves King Mohammed's constitutional reforms BBC, 2 July 2011
Following the referendum, early parliamentary elections were then held on 25 November 2011, which the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party won.
Results of 2011 referendum
See also Moroccan constitutional referendum, 1962 Moroccan constitutional referendum, 1992 Moroccan constitutional referendum, 2011 History of Morocco § Reign of Mohammed VI (since 1999)
References
External links
Full text of the 2011 constitution in English (PDF version) Full text of the 2011 constitution of Morocco in Berber and Arabic Full text of the 1996 constitution in Arabic, English, and French Full text of the 1996–2011 constitution (French)