Constitution of Ecuador

The Constitution of Ecuador is the supreme law of Ecuador. The current constitution has been in place since 1998. In 2008, a new constitution was written, and is pending approval of registered voters of Ecuador. If approved, it will be the country's 20th constitution.

History

Ecuador's first constitution as a republic was established in 1830, following the country's independence from Gran Colombia. Over the years, new constitutions have been written (at an average rate of one every 8.5 years), usually during, or after, periods of social, political, and economic unrest.

Constitution of 2008

Following his election as President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa call for a referendum to form a constitutional assembly to write a new constitution for the country. The referendum, held on April 15, 2007, passed with over 80% approval.

Elections for the formation of the assembly was held on September 30, 2007. With 74 seats, Rafael Correa's political party, PAIS Alliance, won the majority of the 130 available seats, giving him and his party control to approve any measure they wish.

The assembly first convened on November 29, 2007 in Montecristi, and was given six months to write a new constitution, with a possible two-month extension. In late July, 2008, the assembly approved a draft constitution comprising of 494 articles, which is now set to be voted upon by the registered voters of Ecuador in September of 2008.

Environmental rights

When Ecuador began the process of writing a new constitution, they received help from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund to draft environmental laws giving nature and ecosystems rights. [http://www.celdf.org/Default.aspx?tabid=537] [http://www.celdf.org/Default.aspx?tabid=538] [http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.feature/id/1529/page/1] [http://www.celdf.org/Default.aspx?tabid=519] On September 28, 2008, the people of Ecuador voted for a new constitution that is the first in the world to recognize legally enforceable Rights of Nature, or ecosystem rights. It was approved by a large margin. [http://www.celdf.org/Default.aspx?tabid=548]

External links

* [http://www.asambleaconstituyente.gov.ec/ Constitutional Assembly (In Spanish)]
* [http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Ecuador/ecuador.html Constitutions of Ecuador]