Monaco
PREAMBLE
Considering that the institutions of the Principality need to be improved,not only to meet the requirements of a Country’s good governance but also to satisfy the new needs emerged from the populations social evolution.
We have decided to endow the State with a new Constitution, which,under Our Sovereign Will, shall henceforth be considered as the State's basic law and shall not be subject to amendment but with the wording that We have settled.
CHAPTER I. THE PRINCIPALITY - PUBLIC POWERS
That the general, great, and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognised and established, we decare that Article 1. The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign and independent State within the framework of the general principles of international law and the particular conventions with France.The territory of the Principality is unalienable. Article 2. The principle of government is a hereditary and constitutional monarchy.The Principality is a State under the rule of law, committed to fundamental freedoms and rights. Article 3. The executive power is exercised by the highest authority of the Prince.The Prince’s persona is inviolable. Article 4. The legislative power is jointly exercised by the Prince and the National Council. Article 5. The judiciary power is exercised by the courts and tribunals. Article 6. The separation of the administrative, legislative and judiciary function are guaranteed. Article 7. The Princes Standard consists of the coat of arms of the House of Grimaldi upon a white ground.The National Flag consists of two equal stripes, red and white, arranged horizontally, the red in the upper part, the white in the lower part.The use of these standard and flag is governed by the provisions of the sovereign ordinance dated April 4th 1881 Article 8. The French language is the official language of the State. Article 9. The Catholic, Apostolic and Roman religion is the religion of the State.
CHAPTER II. THE PRINCE, THE DEMISE OF THE CROWN
The succession to the Throne, opened by death or abdication takes place by the direct and legitimate issue of the reigning prince, by order of primogeniture with priority given to males within the same degree of kinship.In the absence of direct legitimate issue. the succession passes to the brothers and sisters of the reigning prince and their direct legitimate descendants, by order of primogeniture with priority given to males within the same degree of kinship.If the heir, who would have acceded by virtue of the preceding paragraphs is deceased or renounced the Throne before the succession became open, the succession passes to His own direct legitimate descendants by order of primogeniture with priority given to males within the same degree of kinship.If the application of the preceding paragraphs does not fill the vacancy of the Throne, the succession passes to a collateral heir appointed by the Crown Concil upon same advice of the Regency Council. The powers of the prince are temporarily held by the Regency Council.The Throne can only pass to a person holding Monegasque citizenship on the day the succession opens.The procedures of application of this article are set, as needed, by the House Laws of the Sovereign Family promulgated by Sovereign ordinance.
The Prince can exercise His sovereign powers if He has reached His adult hood fixed at the age of eighteen.During the Prince's adolescence or in case the Prince is unable to exercise His functions, the organisation and conditions of exercise of the Regency are provided for by the House Laws of the Sovereign Family. Article 12. The Prince exercises His sovereign authority in full compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and laws. Article 13. The Prince represents the Principality in its relations with foreign Powers.