The Transition to Democracy in Iraq
Democratie Principles Work Group
Compt d'auteur
The July 1958 revolution abrogated the 1925 Constitution, the most legitimate constitution ofIraq because it was adopted after a process of social debate. Since 1958 five "interim" constitutions have been promulgated. AU were issued in the wake of the military coups that brought army officers or narrow political parties to power. Shortterm considerations ofpersonal or party political self-interest were by and large the shaping force behind each "interim" constitutional initiative. In 1990, a draft of a permanent constitution was for the first time put forward by the Ba'ath Party, but it never underwent ratification because of the August 1990 invasion of Kuwait and its consequences. The last interim constitution, and therefore the one that is in principle still in effect today, was promulgated by the Ba'ath Party in July 1970. It was amended in 1974 to reflect the provisions of the March Il, 1970 accords. And it was "interpreted" in 1977 as follows:
If the people are "the source ofauthority and ...
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