The Belarusian Institute Of System Analysis And Informational Support Of Scientific And Technical Sphere

The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus is the legal foundation of the unity and prosperity of the Belarusian people
Document address: http://www.belisa.org.by/en/news/d0d9ab96c87601d2.html

12.03.2025

A little over three decades ago, the Basic Law of the Republic of Belarus established the constitutional foundations of the Belarusian state and society, defining the vector of political, economic and social development of our young, but already sovereign country. Thus began the countdown of a new historical stage of modern Belarus.

Along with this, acting as a connecting thread between the past and the future, the Constitution embodies the continuity of the history of the Belarusian people, incorporating centuries of experience in the development of legal traditions and state building on our land.

The emergence of the Basic Law of 1994 was preceded by the Belarusian constitutions of the Soviet era of 1919, 1927, 1937, 1978, which laid the foundations of Belarusian statehood, established a system of state bodies, and enshrined the basic rights and responsibilities of citizens.

Against the backdrop of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the parallel political and socio-economic transformations taking place in Belarus, the need arose to change the constitutional foundations of the state system.

By the time the USSR officially ceased to exist, the Declaration "On the State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic" had been in effect in Belarus for almost a year and a half, which later became the prototype of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus. The document proclaimed the independence and fullness of state power of the republic within the borders of its territory, the validity of its laws, and the independence of the republic in foreign relations. However, the Declaration was good only as a temporary measure.

With the collapse of the USSR, it became obvious that Belarusians needed a Basic Law that would define the state system in the new country, build a system of government bodies, determine their competence, and secure the rights and freedoms of citizens. Large-scale work was carried out on the draft Constitution of 1994, which lasted for several years (1990–1994). The main question was what the young independent republic should be like: presidential or parliamentary.

On March 15, 1994, the Constitution was adopted, which for the first time in the history of Belarusian statehood secured the status of the republic as a unitary democratic social state governed by the rule of law, established the principles of a democratic system, and the priority of human rights and freedoms.

In addition, the Constitution, for the first time in the history of the country, introduced the institution of the presidency in the system of the highest bodies of state power. The first elections of the Head of State took place in the same year. From that moment on, the history of independent Belarus began, as we know it today: a truly sovereign state with an independent foreign and domestic policy.

The 1994 Constitution, being anti-crisis in nature, could not fully ensure a sufficient balance of interests between the branches of power. The Supreme Council blocked many decisions of the President of the country aimed at overcoming the economic crisis. All this determined the need to improve and strengthen the presidential form of government, which could ensure strong state power and domestic political stability.

The first referendum since independence (May 14, 1995) put forward initiatives vital to the country: on giving Russian, along with Belarusian, the status of a state language; on changing state symbols; on economic integration with the Russian Federation; on the need to amend the Constitution, which would provide for the possibility of early termination of the powers of the Supreme Council by the President in cases of systematic or gross violation of the Constitution.

At the second national referendum (November 24, 1996), the President of the Republic of Belarus initiated four issues: on amendments and additions to the Constitution; on moving Independence Day to July 3; on introducing free, unrestricted purchase and sale of agricultural land; on abolishing the death penalty.

In fact, the Constitution, as set out in the 1996 edition, became a document that determined the vector of further progressive development of the Belarusian state for decades.

The third referendum (October 17, 2004) secured and ensured further sustainable socio-economic development of the republic. Its result was the exclusion from Part One of Article 81 of the Constitution of the rule on the same person holding the office of President of the Republic of Belarus for no more than two terms.

The Basic Law of Belarus was significantly updated as a result of the fourth referendum (February 27, 2022). Based on the results of the referendum, the preamble and 85 articles of the Constitution were adjusted, 11 new articles were included, and 2 were excluded. The Constitution was supplemented with a new chapter "All-Belarusian People's Assembly".

It is symbolic that the updated Basic Law of the country came into force on March 15, 2022 – Constitution Day of the Republic of Belarus.

The changes primarily affected the issues of the state structure of sovereign Belarus. The norms defining the status, procedure for the formation and powers of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly as the highest representative body of people's power were formulated. It included the President, representatives of the legislative, executive and judicial authorities, local Councils of Deputies, and civil society.

In connection with the redistribution of powers, the All-Belarusian People's Assembly has been assigned a number of important functions: determining the strategic direction of development of society and the state, ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order, ensuring the continuity of generations, civil harmony in society, etc.

A logical continuation of the principles laid down in the Constitution was the adoption of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated February 21, 2025 No. 74 "On Strengthening the Role of Chairmen of Basic-Level Executive Committees in Regional Development". The document expanded the powers of basic-level executive committees in several areas: personnel policy, activities of organizations and enterprises, financial opportunities for regional development.

The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus is the foundation of the state, ensuring the stability of the constitutional system, security and progressive development of society.

Based on materials from: minsk.gov.by