Constitution of Algeria

Chapter I - The Executive Power
Article 70 Article 71 Article 72 The President of the Republic exercises the supreme magistracy within the limits defined by the Constitution. Article 73 Article 74 Article 75 Article 76 The President of the Republic takes the Oath in the following terms: "In the Name of God the Merciful and the Compassionate Faithful to the great sacrifices and to the memory of our martyrs as well as to the ideals of the eternal November Revolution. I do solemnly swear by God the almighty that I will respect and glorify the Islamic religion, defend the Constitution, see to the continuity of the State and provide the necessary conditions for the normal functioning of the reinforcement of the democratic process, respect the free choice of the people as well as the institutions and laws of the Republic, preserve the integrity of the national territory, the unity of the people and the nation, protect the fundamental human and citizen's rights and liberties, work for the development and progress of the people and put all my strength to the achievement of the great ideals of justice, freedom and peace in the world. God is my witness." Article 77 In addition to the powers bestowed, explicitly, upon him by other provisions of the Constitution the President of the Republic has the following powers and prerogatives: 1# he awards State medals, decorations and honorific titles. Article 78 Article 79 Article 80 Article 81 In case of non approval of his programme by the People's National Assembly, the Head of Government presents the resignation of his Government to the President of the Republic. This latter appoints again a Head of Government in accordance with the same modes. Article 82 Article 83 The Head of Government executes and coordinates the programme adopted by the People's National Assembly. Article 84 Article 85 In addition to the powers bestowed upon him explicitly by other provisions of the Constitution, the Head of Government exercises the following functions: Article 86 The Head of Government may present to the President of the Republic the resignation of his Government. Article 87 Article 88 Article 89 Article 90 Article 91 Article 92 The organization of the state of emergency and the sate of siege is defined by an organic law. Article 93 Article 94 The High Security Council heard, the President of the People's National Assembly and the President of the Council of Nation referred to, the President of the Republic decrees the general mobilization during the meeting of the Cabinet. Article 95 Article 96 Article 97
 * 1) The President of the Republic, Head of the State, embodies the unity of the Nation. He is the guarantor of the Constitution.
 * 2) He embodies the State within the country and abroad.
 * 3) He addresses the Nation directly.
 * 1) The President of the Republic is elected by direct, secret and universal suffrage.
 * 2) The election acquired through the absolute majority of the expressed votes.
 * 3) The other modes of presidential election are defined by the law.
 * 1) To be eligible to the Presidency of the Republic, the candidate should:
 * have, solely, the Algerian nationality by origin;
 * be a Muslim;
 * be more than forty (40) years-old the day of the election;
 * enjoy full civil and political rights;
 * prove the Algerian nationality of the spouse;
 * justify his participation in the 1st of November 1954 Revolution for the candidates born before July 1942;
 * justify the non-involvement of the parents of the candidate born after July 1942, in actions hostile to the 1st of November 1954 Revolution;
 * submit a public declaration of his personal and real estate existing either within Algeria or abroad.
 * 1) Other conditions are prescribed by the law.
 * 1) The duration of the presidential mandate is five # years.
 * 2) The President of the Republic can be reelected once only.
 * 1) The President of the Republic takes an oath before the People and in the presence of the high authorities of the Nation, in the week following his election.
 * 2) He enters into of lice after taking the Oath.
 * 1) he is the Supreme Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Republic;
 * 2) he is responsible for the National Defense;
 * 3) he decides and conducts the foreign policy of the Nation;
 * 4) he presides the Cabinet;
 * 5) he appoints the Head of Government and puts an end to his functions;
 * 6) he signs the presidential decrees;
 * 7) he has the right of pardon, remission or commutation of punishment;
 * 8) he can refer to the People through a referendum on any issue of national importance;
 * 9) he concludes and ratifies international treaties;
 * 1) The President of the Republic appoints:
 * 2) to posts and mandates provided by the Constitution:
 * 3) to State civil and military posts;
 * 4) to nominations decided in the Cabinet;
 * 5) the President of the Council of State;
 * 6) the Secretary General of the Government;
 * 7) the Governor of the Bank of Algeria;
 * 8) the Magistrates;
 * 9) high officials of security bodies;
 * 10) the "walis".
 * 11) The President of the Republic appoints and recalls the ambassadors and the special envoys of the Republic abroad. He receives the credentials and the letters of recall of foreign diplomatic representatives.
 * 1) The Head of Government presents the members of the Government he chose to the President of the Republic who appoints them.
 * 2) The Head of Government establishes a programme and submits it to the Cabinet.
 * 1) The Head of Government submits his programme for approval to the People's National Assembly. This latter opens, for this purpose, a general debate.
 * 2) The Head of Government may adapt his programme in the light of this debate.
 * 3) The Head of Government addresses a communication on his programme to the Council of Nation.
 * 4) The Council of Nation may issue a resolution.
 * 1) If the People's National Assembly's approval is not obtained, the People's National Assembly is dissolved de jure.
 * 2) The Government in office is kept in position in order to manage daily affairs until the election of a new People's National Assembly within a maximum period of three # months.
 * 1) The Government presents each year a general policy declaration to the People's National Assembly.
 * 2) The general policy declaration is followed by a debate on the action of the Government.
 * 3) This debate may end up with a resolution.
 * 4) It may also lead the People's National Assembly to bring in a vote of censure, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 135, 136 and 137 under-mentioned.
 * 5) The Head of Government may ask the People's National Assembly a vote of confidence. If the motion of confidence is not voted, the Head of Government presents the resignation of his Government.
 * 6) In this case, the President of the Republic may, before accepting the resignation, use the provisions of Article 129 under-mentioned.
 * 7) The Government may also present a general policy declaration to the Council of Nation.
 * 1) he distributes the functions among the members of the Government in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution;
 * 2) he presides the Council of Government;
 * 3) he sees to the execution of laws and rules;
 * 4) he signs executive decrees;
 * 5) he appoints to state offices, without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 77 and 78 above mentioned;
 * 6) he sees to the best functioning of the public administration.
 * 1) The President of the Republic cannot, in any cases, delegate the power to appoint the Head of Government, the members of the Government, as well as the presidents and members of constitutional institutions for whom another mode of designation is not provided by the Constitution.
 * 2) Moreover, he cannot delegate his power to resort to referendum, to dissolve the People's National Assembly, to decide on anticipated legislative elections, to implement the provisions of Articles 77, 78, 91, 93 to 95, 97, 124, 127 and 128 of the Constitution.
 * 1) If the President of the Republic, because of serious and long-lasting illness, happens to be in the impossibility to carry out his functions, the Constitutional Council meets de jure, and after having verified the reality of the impediment by the appropriate means, proposes, unanimously, to the Parliament to declare the state of impediment.
 * 2) The Parliament sitting, in both chambers convened together, declares the state of impediment of the President of the Republic, with a majority of two-thirds (2/3) of its members and charges the President of the Council of Nation, to stand for the Head of State by interim for a maximum period of forty five (45) days and carry out his prerogatives in accordance with the provisions of Article 90 of the Constitution.
 * 3) If the impediment continues at the expiry of the forty- five (45) days period, a declaration of vacancy by resignation de jure is made in accordance with the procedure mentioned in the above paragraphs and the provisions of the following paragraph of the present Article.
 * 4) In case of resignation or death of the President of the Republic, the Constitutional Council meets de jure and ascertains the permanent vacancy of the Presidency of the Republic.
 * It, immediately, communicates the permanent vacancy declaration act to the Parliament which meets de jure.
 * 1) The President of the Council of Nation assumes the charge of Head of State for a maximum period of sixty (60) days, during which presidential elections are organized.
 * 2) The Head of State, thus designated, cannot be candidate to the Presidency of the Republic.
 * 3) In case the resignation or the death of the President of the Republic comes in conjunction with the vacancy of the Presidency of the Council of Nation whatever the cause may be, the Constitutional council meets de jure and ascertain, unanimously, the permanent vacancy of the Presidency of the Republic and the impediment of the President of the Council of Nation. In this case, the President of the Constitutional Council assumes the function of the Head of State in accordance with the conditions defined in the preceding paragraphs of the present Article and Article 90 of the Constitution. I le cannot be candidate for the Presidency of the Republic.
 * 1) When one of the candidates of the second round of the presidential elections dies, withdraws or is hindered for any reason, the President of the Republic in office or who assumes the function of Head of State remains in of lice until the proclamation of the election of the President of the Republic.
 * 2) In this case, the Constitutional Council extends the period of organizing the election for a maximum period of sixty (60) days.
 * 3) The organic law will determine the conditions and modes of implementing the present provisions.
 * 1) The Government in office at the time of the impediment, the death or the resignation of the President of the Republic cannot be resigned or re shuffled until the new President of the Republic comes into office.
 * 2) In the case the Head of Government in office, is candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, he resigns de jure. The function of Head of Government is assumed by a member of the Government appointed by the Head of State.
 * 3) During the periods of forty five (45) days and sixty (60) days provided for by Articles 88 and 89, the provisions in the paragraphs 7 and 8 of Article 77 and the Articles 79, 124, 129, 136, 137, 174, 176, 177 of the Constitution cannot be implemented.
 * 4) During these same periods, the provisions of Articles 91, 93, 94, 95, 97 of the Constitution cannot be implemented unless the Parliament sitting in both cambers convened together gives its approval, the Constitutional Council and the High Security Council referred to before.
 * 1) In case of urgent necessity, the High Security Council convened, the President of the People's National Assembly, the President of the Council of Nation, the Head of Government and the President of the Republic decrees the state of emergency or the stat of siege, for a definite period and takes all the necessary measures to restore the situation.
 * 2) The duration of the state of emergency or the state of siege cannot be extended unless with the approval of the parliament sitting in both chambers convened together.
 * 1) When the country is threatened by an impending danger to its institutions, to its independence or to its territorial integrity, the President of the Republic decrees the state of exception.
 * 2) Such a measure is taken after referring to the President of the People's National Assembly, the President of the Council of Nation and the Constitutional Council, and hearing the High Security Council and the Cabinet.
 * 3) The state of exception entitles the President of the Republic to take exceptional measures dictated by the safeguard of the independence of the Nation and the institutions of the Republic.
 * 4) The Parliament meets de jure. The state of exception mentioned above and which led to its proclamation.
 * 1) The Cabinet met, the High Security Council heard, the President of the People's National Assembly and the President of the Council of Nation referred to, the President of the Republic declares war in case of effective or impending aggression in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter.
 * 2) The parliament meets de jure. The President of the Republic addresses a message informing the Nation.
 * 1) During the period of the state of war, the Constitution is suspended, the President of the Republic assumes all the powers.
 * 2) When the mandate of the President of the Republic comes to expiry, it is extended de jure until the end of the war.
 * 3) In case the President of the Republic resigns or dies or any other impediment, the President of the Council of Nation assumes, as Head of State and within the same conditions as that of the President of the Republic, all the prerogatives required by the state of war. In case there is a conjunction of the vacancy of the Presidency of the Republic and the Presidency of the Council of Nation, the President of the Constitutional Council assumes, the function of the Head of State within the conditions provided for above.
 * 1) The President of the Republic signs armistice agreements and peace treaties.
 * 2) He receives the opinion of the Constitutional Council on the relevant agreements. He submits the latter immediately to be approved explicitly by each of the two chambers of the Parliament.

Chapter II - The Legislative Power
Article 98 The legislative power is exercised by a parliament, consisting of two chambers, the People's National Assembly and the Council of Nation. The Parliament is sovereign to elaborate and vote the law. Article 99 Article 100 The Parliament should, within its constitutional attributions, remain faithful to the trust of the people and be permanently aware of their aspirations. Article 101 Article 102 Article 103 The modes for the election of deputies and those concerning the election or the appointment of members of the Council of Nation, the conditions of eligibility, the rules of ineligibility and incompatibility are defined by an organic law. Article 104 The validation of the mandate of the deputies and that of the members of the Council of Nation comes within the respective competence of each of the two chambers. Article 105 The mandate of the deputy and the member of the Council of Nation is national. It can be renewed and not concurrent with other mandate or function. Article 106 Article 107 Article 108 The conditions by which the Parliament accepts the resignation of one of its members are defined by an organic Article 109 Article 110 Lawsuits cannot be instituted against a deputy or a member of the Council of Nation for crime or infringement unless there is an explicit renunciation of the concerned or an authorization according to the case from the People's National Assembly or the Council of Nation which decides by the majority of its members to lift the immunity. Article 111 Article 112 An organic law defines the conditions for the replacement of a deputy or a member of the Council of Nation in case there is vacancy of his seat. Article 113 Article 114 The President of the People's Assembly is elected for the term of the legislative body. The President of the Council of Nation is elected after each partial renewal of the members of the Council. Article 115 Article 116 Article 117 The People's National Assembly and the Council of Nation set up permanent committees in the framework of their internal rules. Article 118 Article 119 Article 120 Article 121 Is inadmissible any law proposal which leads to or the subject of which is to reduce public resources or increase public expenses unless it is accompanied by measures aiming at increasing the State income or making, at least, corresponding savings in other items of public expenses. Article 122 The Parliament legislates in the domains which the Constitution assigned to it, as well as the following domains: Article 123 Article 124 Article 125 Article 126 Article 127 Article 128 The President of the Republic may address a message to the Parliament. Article 129 Article 130 Article 131 Armistice agreements, peace, alliance and union treaties, treaties related to State borders as well as treaties involving expenses not provided for in the State budget are ratified by the President of the Republic following an explicit approval by each of the chambers of the Parliament. Article 132 Treaties ratified by the President of the Republic in accordance with the conditions provided for by the Constitution are superior to the law. Article 133 Article 134 Article 135 Article 136 Article 137 If the motion of censure is adopted by the People's National Assembly, the Head of Government submits the resignation of his Government to the President of the Republic.
 * 1) The parliament controls the action of the Government within the conditions defined by Articles 80, 84, 133 and 134 of the Constitution.
 * 2) The control, provided for in Articles 135 to 137 of the Constitution, is carried out by the People's National Assembly.
 * 1) The members of the People's National Assembly are elected by means of a universal direct and secret suffrage.
 * 2) Two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Council of Nation are elected by means of indirect and secret suffrage among and by the members of the People's Communal Assemblies and the People's Malaya Assembly.
 * 3) One third (1/3) of the members of the Council of Nation is designated by the President of the Republic among the national personalities and qualified persons in the scientific, cultural, professional, economic and social fields.
 * 4) The number of members of the Council of Nation is equal to the half, to the utmost, of the members of the People's National Assembly.
 * 5) The modes of implementing paragraph 2 above mentioned are defined by the law.
 * 1) The People's National Assembly is elected for a period of five (05) years.
 * 2) The mandate of the Council of Nation is limited to six (06) years.
 * 3) Half the members of the Council of Nation is renewed every three (03) years.
 * 4) The mandate of the Parliament cannot be extended unless there are very exceptional circumstances which hinder the normal progress of elections. This situation is ascertained by a decision of the Parliament, sitting in both chambers convened together, following a proposal of the President of the Republic and the Constitutional Council referred to.
 * 1) The deputy or the member of the Council of Nation who does not fulfill or does not fulfill any more the conditions of his eligibility incurs the forfeiture of his mandate.
 * 2) This forfeiture is decided according to the case by the People's National Assembly or the Council of Nation by the majority of their members.
 * 1) The deputy or the member of the Council of Nation commits himself before his peers who can revoke his mandate if he commits a shameful action for his mission.
 * 2) The internal rules of each of the two chambers define the conditions of excluding a deputy or a member of the Council of Nation. The exclusion is decided according to the case by the People's National Assembly or the Council of Nation, by the majority of its members without prejudice to any other common law lawsuits.
 * 1) Parliamentary immunity is recognized to deputies and members of the Council of Nation during the period of their mandate.
 * 2) They cannot be subject to lawsuits, arrest, or in general, to any civil or penal action or pressure because of opinions they expressed, utterances they maple or votes they gave during the exercise of their mandate.
 * 1) In case of flagrant infringement or flagrant crime, the deputy or the member of the Council of Nation may be arrested. The bureau of the People's National Assembly or of the Council of Nation, depending on the case, is informed immediately.
 * 2) The informed bureau may ask the suspension of lawsuits and the liberation of the deputy or the member of the Council of Nation; it will then be proceeded according to the provisions of Article 110 above mentioned.
 * 1) The term of the legislative body begins de jure the tenth day following the date of the election of the People's National Assembly, under the chairmanship of the oldest member assisted by the two youngest deputes.
 * 2) The People's National Assembly elects its bureau and forms its committees. The above mentioned provisions are applied to the Council of Nation.
 * 1) The organization and the functioning of the People's National Assembly and the Council of Nation as well as the functional relations between the chambers of the Parliament and the Government are defined by an organic law.
 * 2) The budget of the chambers as well as the salaries of the deputies and the members of the Council of Nation are defined by the law.
 * 3) The People's National Assembly and the Council of Nation elaborate and adopt their internal rules.
 * 1) The sittings of the Parliament are public.
 * 2) The proceedings are recorded in a book and published in accordance with the conditions defined by an organic law.
 * 3) The People's National Assembly and the Council of Nation may sit in camera upon a request made by their presidents, by the majority of their members present or by the Head of Government.
 * 1) The Parliament meets in two ordinary sessions a year, each lasting a minimum period of four (04) months.
 * 2) The Parliament may hold a meeting in an extraordinary session on the initiative of the President of the Republic.
 * 3) The President of the Republic can hold a meeting of the Parliament on a request made by the Head of Government or by the two thirds (2/3) of the members of the People's National Assembly.
 * 4) The closure of the extraordinary session comes after the Parliament has exhausted the agenda for which it was convened.
 * 1) The Head of Government and the deputies have the right to initiate laws.
 * 2) To be admissible, proposed laws are brought in by twenty (20) deputes.
 * 3) Draft laws are presented in the Cabinet following the opinion of the Council of State then submitted to the bureau of the People's National Assembly by the Head of Government.
 * 1) To be adopted, any draft law or law proposal should be debated successively by the People's National Assembly and the Council of Nation.
 * 2) The discussion of draft laws or law proposals by the People's National Assembly concerns the text which is presented to it.
 * 3) The Council of Nation deliberates the text voted by the People's National Assembly and adopts it by the majority of three quarters (3/4) of its members.
 * 4) In case there is a disagreement between the two chambers, a committee of equal representation of the two chambers meets on a request of the Head of Government to propose a text on the provisions subject of the disagreement.
 * 5) This text is submitted by the Head of Government to be adopted by the two chambers and cannot be amended unless with the agreement of the Government.
 * 6) In case the disagreement persists, the text is withdrawn.
 * 7) The Parliament adopts the financial law within a period of seventy five-(75) days at the utmost from the date it was submitted in accordance with the preceding paragraphs.
 * 8) In case it was not adopted in the time limit the President of the Republic promulgates the draft text of the Government by ordinance.
 * 9) Other procedures are defined by the organic law mentioned in Article 115 of the Constitution.
 * 1) fundamental rights and duties of the individuals, in particular, the rules of public liberties, the safeguard of individual liberties and the obligations of the citizens;
 * 2) general rules concerning personal statute and the family status and, in particular, marriage, divorce, affiliation, capacity and inheritance;
 * 3) conditions of individual's establishment;
 * 4) basic legislation concerning the Nationality;
 * 5) general rules related to the condition of the foreigners;
 * 6) rules related to the judiciary organization and to the setting up of jurisdictions;
 * 7) general rules of penal law and penal procedures; and in particular, the determination of crimes and infringements, the institution of corresponding punishments of any nature, amnesty, extradition and the penitentiary system;
 * 8) general rules of civil procedure and execution means;
 * 9) rules of civil, trade and property obligations;
 * 10) territorial allotment of the country;
 * 11) adopting the national plan;
 * 12) voting the State budget;
 * 13) setting up tax base and rate, contributions and duties of any nature;
 * 14) customs regulations;
 * 15) money issuing regulations and bank, credit and insurance rules;
 * 16) general rules related to teaching and Scientific Research;
 * 17) general rules related to public health and population;
 * 18) general rules related to work law, social security and to the exercise of trade union right;
 * 19) general rules related to environment, living space and land management;
 * 20) general rules related to the protection of the fauna and the flora;
 * 21) protection and safeguard of cultural and historic heritage;
 * 22) general regulation for forests and grazing lands;
 * 23) general regulation for water;
 * 24) general regulation for mines and hydrocarbons;
 * 25) land regulation;
 * 26) the fundamental guaranties granted to civil servants and the general statute of civil service;
 * 27) general rules related to National Defense and the use of armed forces by civil authorities;
 * 28) rules of property transfer from the public sector to the private sector;
 * 29) the creation of types of establishments;
 * 30) instituting State medals, distinctions and honorific titles.
 * 1) In addition to the domains intended to the organic laws by the Constitution, the Parliament legislates through organic laws in the following fields:
 * organization and functioning of public powers;
 * electoral regulation;
 * the law pertaining to political parties;
 * the law related to information;
 * the statute of magistracy and judiciary organization;
 * the outline law of financial laws;
 * the law pertaining to national security.
 * 1) The organic law is adopted by the absolute majority of the deputies and the majority of three quarters (3/4) of the members of the Council of Nation.
 * 2) It is submitted to the Constitutional Council for a conformity control before its promulgation.
 * 1) The President of the Republic can legislate by ordinance in case there is a vacancy of the People's National Assembly or in the inter-sessions periods of the Parliament.
 * 2) The President of the Republic submits the texts he enacted to be approved by each of the two chambers of the Parliament in its next session.
 * 3) The ordinances not adopted by the Parliament are void.
 * 4) The President of the Republic may legislate by ordinance in case of a state of exception defined by Article 93 of the Constitution.
 * 5) The ordinances are taken in a meeting of the Cabinet.
 * 1) The President of the Republic exercises the powers pertaining to regulations for matters other than those intended to the law.
 * 2) The implementation of laws is the domain of the Head of Government.
 * 1) The law is promulgated by the President of the Republic within thirty (30) days from the date of handing it over.
 * 2) However, when the Constitutional Council is called upon by one of the authorities mentioned in Article 166 under-mentioned, before the promulgation of the law, this time limit is suspended until the Constitutional Council expresses its opinion is accordance with the conditions defined by Article 167 under-mentioned.
 * 1) The President of the Republic may request a second reading of the voted law within thirty (30) days following its adoption.
 * 2) In this case, the majority of two third (2/3) of the deputies of the People's National Assembly is required for the law to be adopted.
 * 1) The President of the People's National Assembly, the President of the Council of Nation, the Head of Government, referred to, the President of the Republic may decide the dissolution of the People's National Assembly or the Organization of anticipated general elections.
 * 2) In the two cases, general elections are held within a maximum time limit of three (03) months.
 * 1) The Parliament may open a debate on foreign policy upon a request made by the President of the Republic or one of the presidents of the two chambers.
 * 2) The debate may end up, in that case, with a resolution, of the Parliament sitting in both chambers convened together, which will be sent to the President of the Republic.
 * 1) Members of the Parliament may call upon the Government on a topical issue.
 * 2) The committees of the Parliament may hear the members of Government.
 * 1) Members of the Parliament may address orally or in a written form any question to any member of the Government.
 * 2) Answers to written questions should be in written form within a maximum time limit of thirty (30) days.
 * 3) Answers to oral questions are given in session.
 * 4) If one of the two chambers considers that oral or written answers of a member of the Government justifies a debate, this latter is opened in accordance with the conditions provided for by the rules of procedure of People's National Assembly and the Council of Nation.
 * 5) The questions and answers are published in accordance with the same conditions as those of the minute of proceedings of the Parliament's debates.
 * 1) In debating the general policy declaration, the People's National Assembly may sue the Government's responsibility through voting a motion of censure.
 * 2) Such a motion is admissible only if it was signed by, at least, one seventh (1/7) of the number of deputies.
 * 1) The motion of censure should be approved by the majority of two third (2/3) of the deputies.
 * 2) The vote occurs only three days after the motion of censure is brought in.

Chapter III - The Judicial Power
Article 138 The judicial power is independent. It is exercised within the framework of the law. Article 139 The judicial power protects the society and the liberties. It guarantees, to all and to everyone, the safeguard of their fundamental rights. Article 140 Article 141 Justice dispensed on behalf of the People. Article 142 Punishments should comply with the principles of lawfulness and individuality. Article 143 Justice deals with appeals against and administrative authorities decisions. Article 144 Justice decisions are justified and pronounced in public hearing. Article 145 All the qualified State bodies should ensure, at any time, in any place and in any circumstances, the execution of justice decisions. Article 146 Justice is pronounced by magistrates. They can be assisted by People's assessors in accordance with the conditions defined by the law. Article 147 The judge obeys to the law only. Article 148 The judge is protected against any foam of pressure, interventions or maneuvers which prejudice his mission or the respect of his free will. Article 149 The magistrate is answerable before the High Council of Magistracy and within the foams prescribed by the law on the way he accomplishes his task. Article 150 The law protects the justiciable against any abuse or deviation the judge. Article 151 Article 152 Article 153 The organization, the functioning and other attributions of the High Court, the Council of State and the Tribunals of Conflicts are defined by an organic law. Article 154 The High Council of Magistracy is presided by the President of the Republic. Article 155 Article 156 The High Council of Magistracy gives a prior consultative opinion to the exercise of the right of free pardon by the President of the Republic. Article 157 The composition, the functioning and the other prerogatives of the High Council of Magistracy are defined by an organic law. Article 158
 * 1) Justice is founded on the principles of lawfulness and equality.
 * 2) It is the same for all, accessible for all and is expressed by the respect of the law.
 * 1) The right for defense is recognized.
 * 2) In penal matters, it is guaranteed.
 * 1) The High Court is the regulating body of the activities of the courts and tribunals.
 * 2) A Council of State is instituted as a regulating body of activities of the administrative jurisdictions.
 * 3) The High Court and the Council of State are responsible for the unification of jurisprudence throughout the country and see to the respect of the law.
 * 4) A Tribunal of Conflicts is instituted to settle conflicts of competency between the High Court and the Council of State.
 * 1) The High Council of Magistracy decides, within the conditions defined by the law, the appointment, transfer and the progress of the magistrate's careers.
 * 2) It sees to the respect of the provisions provided for the statute of the magistracy and of the control of discipline under the chairmanship of the First President of the High Court.
 * 1) A High Court of State is instituted to deal with actions that can be qualified of high treason committed by the President of the Republic, with crimes and infringements committed by the Head of Government during their of office.
 * 2) The composition, the organization and the functioning of the High Court of State as well as the procedures of implementation are defined by an organic law.

Chapter I - Control
Article 159 The elected assemblies assume the function of control within its popular dimension. Article 160 Article 161 Article 163 A Constitutional Council is institute to see to the respect of the Constitution. The Constitutional Council sees also to the due form of referendum operations, the election of the President of the Republic and the legislative elections. It proclaims the results of these operations. Article 164 The Constitutional Council is composed of nine (09) members: three (03) appointed by the President of the Republic among whom is the President, two (02) elected by the People's National Assembly, two (02) elected by the Council of Nation, one (01) elected by the Supreme court of Nation, one (01) elected by the Council of state. Once elected or appointed, the members of the Constitutional Council cease any other mandate, function, responsibility or mission. The President of the Republic appoints the President of the Constitutional Council for a single mandate of six (06) years. The other members of the Constitutional Council fill a unique mandate of six (06) years and are renewed by half every three (03) years. Article 165 Article 166 The Constitutional Council is called upon by the President of the Republic, the President of the People's National Assembly or by the President of the Council of Nation. Article 167 Article 168 When the Constitutional Council considers that a treaty, an agreement or a convention is not constitutional, its ratification cannot take place. Article 169 When the Constitutional Council considers that a legislative or regulatory provision is not constitutional, this latter loses its effect from the date the decision is taken by the Council. Article 170
 * 1) The Government presents to each chamber of the Parliament a report on the use of budgetary credits which it voted for each financial year.
 * 2) The financial year is close as far as it concerns the Parliament by a vote, by each of the chambers, of the financial year in question.
 * 1) Each of the two chambers of the Parliament may, within the framework of its prerogatives, institute at any time committees investigating affairs of general interest Article 16#
 * 2) The control institutions and bodies are in charge of checking the conformity of the legislative and executive action with the Constitution and to verify the conditions of use and management of material means and public funds.
 * 1) In addition to the prerogatives explicitly bestowed upon it by other provisions of the Constitution, the Constitutional Council pronounces on the constitutionality of treaties, laws and regulations, either through an opinion if these are not enforced or, otherwise, through a decision.
 * 2) The Constitutional Council, called upon by the President of the Republic, expresses a compulsory opinion on the constitutionality of the organic laws following their adoption by the Parliament.
 * 3) The Constitutional Council also pronounces on the conformity of the rules of procedures of each of the two chambers of the Parliament with the Constitution accordance with the provisions of the above mentions paragraph.
 * 1) The Constitutional Council deliberates in camera; its opinion or its decision are given within twenty (20) days following the date it was referred to.
 * 2) The Constitutional Council defines the rules of its functioning.
 * 1) An Audit Office is instituted with the task of controlling a posteriori the finances of the State, the territorial collectivities and public services.
 * 2) The Audit Office establishes a yearly report which is addressed to the President of the Republic.
 * 3) The law defines the prerogatives, the organization and the functioning of the Audit Office as well as the sanctions of its investigations.

Chapter II - Consultative Institutions
Article 171 A High Islamic Council is instituted to the President of the Republic and is trusted, in particular, with: Article 172 The High Islamic Council is composed of fifteen (15) members, including a president appointed by the President of the Republic among national personalities highly qualified in various fields of science. Article 173
 * encouraging and promoting "Ijtihad";
 * expressing its views in comparison with religious precepts on matters submitted to it;
 * presenting a periodic report of activity to the President of the Republic.
 * 1) A High Security Council presided by the President of the Republic is instituted. Its task is to express views on all the issues related to national security.
 * 2) The President of the Republic defines the modes of organization and functioning of the High Security Council.

Part Four Constitution Revision
Article 174 Article 175 Article 176 When the Constitutional Council considers that the draft constitutional revision does not infringe, at all, upon the general principles governing the Algerian society, the human and citizen's rights and liberties, or does not affect, in any way, the fundamental balance of powers and of institutions, the President of the Republic may promulgate, directly, the law pertaining to constitutional revision without submitting it to People's referendum if it obtains the voices of three quarters (3/4) of the members of the two chambers of the Parliament. Article 177 The three quarters (3/4) of the members of the two chambers of the Parliament meeting together can propose a constitutional revision and present it to the President of the Republic who can submit it to a referendum. If approved, it is promulgated. Article 178 Any constitutional revision cannot infringe on:
 * 1) Constitutional revision is decided on the initiative of the President of the Republic. It is voted, in the same manner, in accordance with the same conditions applied to a legislative text by the People's National Assembly and the Council of Nation.
 * 2) It is submitted to a referendum to be approved by the People within fifty (SO) days following its adoption.
 * 3) The Constitutional revision, approved by the People is promulgated by the President of the Republic.
 * 1) The law pertaining to the draft constitutional revision not approved by the People is void.
 * 2) It cannot be submitted again to the People during the same legislature.
 * 1) the republican nature of the State;
 * 2) the democratic order based on multi-party system;
 * 3) Islam as the religion of the State;
 * 4) arabic as the national and official language;
 * 5) fundamental liberties, and citizen's rights;
 * 6) integrity of the national territory.

Part Five Transitional Provisions
Article 179 The legislative body in office at the date of the promulgation of the present Constitution and up to the end of its mandate, the President of the Republic at the end of the legislative body's mandate and up to the election of the People's National Assembly, legislate through ordinances including the domains pertaining to organic laws. Article 180 Awaiting the setting up of the institutions provided for in the present Constitution: Article 181 The renewal of half (1/2) the members of the Council of Nation during the first mandate is carried out at the end of the third year by drawing lots. Members of the Council of Nation are replaced by drawing lots in the same conditions and following the same procedure of their election or appointment. However, drawing lots does not concern the President of the Council of Nation who assumes the first mandate of six (06) years. Article 182 The President of the Republic promulgates the constitutional revision text approved by the people and which will be carried out as the fundamental law of the Republic.
 * the laws in force pertaining to the organic domain remain applicable up to their replacement or modification in accordance with the procedures provided for by the Constitution;
 * the Constitutional Council, with its present representation, assumes the prerogatives bestowed upon it by the present Constitution up to the time of setting up institutions represented in its midst. Any modification or addition should be subject to Article 164 (paragraph 3) of the present Constitution, resorting, if necessary, to drawing lots;
 * the elected People's National Assembly will assume full legislative power until the Council of Nation is set up; However the President of the Republic may delay the promulgation of the laws adopted by the deputies until their adoption by the Council of Nation.

Constitution algérienne du 28 novembre 1996 (version initiale)