Turkmenistan · Constitution
Constitution of Turkmenistan
Adopted in May 1992 and revised in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2016, 2020 and 2023. The 2008 revision abolished the People's Council as a state organ and enlarged the Mejlis. The 2016 revision extended the presidential term from five to seven years and removed the upper age limit for candidates. The 2020 revision created a bicameral parliament with the Halk Maslahaty as an upper chamber; the 2023 revision reversed that, returning to a unicameral Mejlis and re-establishing the Halk Maslahaty as a separate supreme representative body chaired by the National Leader. Chapter Two guarantees rights, and Article 3 declares the highest value to be the human being.
The constitutional text
Adopted in May 1992 and revised in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2016, 2020 and 2023. The 2008 revision abolished the People's Council as a state organ and enlarged the Mejlis. The 2016 revision extended the presidential term from five to seven years and removed the upper age limit for candidates. The 2020 revision created a bicameral parliament with the Halk Maslahaty as an upper chamber; the 2023 revision reversed that, returning to a unicameral Mejlis and re-establishing the Halk Maslahaty as a separate supreme representative body chaired by the National Leader. Chapter Two guarantees rights, and Article 3 declares the highest value to be the human being.
Separation of powers
Unitary and highly centralised. Five regions (welayatlar) and the city of Ashgabat, subdivided into districts (etraplar) and towns. Regional and district governors (hakims) are appointed and dismissed by the President. Elected local councils (halk maslahatlary at regional level and gengeshler at village level) exist but hold no autonomous legislative competence. There is a separate legal regime for the Awaza national tourist zone on the Caspian, which offers distinct investment and customs terms.
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