The Constitution of Haiti was modeled after the constitutions of the United States and France. The document was approved by Parliament in March 2011 and came into effect on June 20, 2012.
History
A total of 23 constitutions have been promulgated throughout Haiti's history, the first of which was promulgated under the short-lived government of then-Governor-General Toussaint Louverture, who had become the leader of the revolutionary forces in the Haitian Revolution.
. Established Toussaint as Governor for Life and gave him the right to select his successor Provided a mechanism to overthrow any governor avoiding election. Abolished slavery and racial restrictions on employment, but upheld fermage, leases, and restrictions on movement. Estates abandoned by their owners during the revolution to be held and operated in trust by the government, but not nationalized. Banned free assembly, all religions other than Catholicism, divorce, and any imports in competition with local manufactures.
Constitution of 1804
. First constitution of Haiti proper. Created a non-hereditary empire under Dessalines. This constitution provided for freedom of religion, banned most whites from citizenship or owning land in Haiti, and declared all citizens "black" in an effort to end racism based on lightness of skin.
formalized a northern State of Haiti with Christophe as its President for Life and a small appointed Council of State, composed primarily of generals. Banned divorce and public exercise of any religion other than Catholicism, and suspended operation of the constitution at any location attended by the army. Unusual in its omission of any prohibition against white ownership of land.
for the northern State of Haiti, establishing a hereditary monarchy under Christophe. Again, prohibition against white ownership of land was omitted.
. Created a bicameral legislature of a House of Representatives and a Senate, established Pétion as President for Life, restricted the legislature to only consider bills proposed by the president, and provided for laws by presidential order, except for taxation. The Senate was no longer directly elected, but selected by the lower house from a list of nominees provided by the president. This constitution also provided automatic Haitian citizenship to any black, Indian, or person of mixed race who resided in the nation for more than a year.
Constitution of 1849. Re-established Haïti as an empire under Faustin I.
under Michel Domingue. Granted the executive had the power to dissolve the Chambers and to establish a Council of State to aid the Government. Power was given to the president for one year to change the judges and magistrates.
Constitution of 1867
Constitution of 1874
Constitution of 1879
Constitution of 1888
Constitution of 1889
Constitution of 1902
Constitution of 1918, acclaimed by U.S.-backed plebiscite: 98,225 for, 769 against.
Constitution of 1932
Constitution of 1935. Anti-democratic. Allowed Sténio Vincent broad powers, including the ability to succeed himself.
. Banned dual citizenship, effectively restricting Haitian-Americans from running for president in Haiti. Was ratified in March 1987, but it was completely suspended from June 1988 to March 1989 and was only fully reinstated in October 1994.
Constitution of 2012. Currently in force. Re-legalizes dual citizenship, allows for Haitians living abroad to own land and run for Haitian political office. Also demands the establishment of a permanent constitutional court to resolve disputes between Parliament and the executive, a new permanent electoral council to replace the provisional CEP, and that 30 percent of government jobs be held by women.
