Adoption and amendments Hungarian Constitution of 1949

1949 postage stamp commemorating constitution adopted year

following end of world war ii , after country had been occupied soviet union, democratic elections held under statute viii of 1945. then, statute of 1946, provisional constitutional statute (or little constitution ) passed on 31 january, formally ended thousand-year monarchy , introduced republican form of government. in 1949, after hungarian working people s party had assumed undisputed control of country, communist-controlled parliament adopted constitution act xx of 1949. date of adoption, 20 august, made new national holiday coincided traditional holiday of feast of saint stephen. document has been described slavish imitation of soviet-type constitutions, variations resulting historical , political differences between soviet union , hungary . (specifically, modelled on stalin 1936 soviet constitution.) now, hungary became people s republic, state of workers , working peasants . presidential council elected parliament head of state, real power rested working people s party, leading role enshrined in document. national assembly met ten days each year, rules taking form of presidential , ministerial decrees. variety of fundamental rights guaranteed, working people (or in accordance interests). moreover, no means existed of ensuring these rights mandatory nature or of rendering them enforceable. church , state separated.

until 1989, charter s basic features remained in effect, although regime added important amendments in 1950, 1953, 1954, 1972, , 1983. notably, act of 26 april 1972, comprehensively redrafted constitution, proclaiming hungary socialist state. while social, economic , political order remained same, fundamental rights guaranteed citizens (but rights, freedom of speech, press or assembly, still had conform interests of socialism , people). preamble still paid tribute soviet liberators took longer historical perspective, referring millennium of people s struggle. role of mass movements , trade unions (in addition party) in building of socialism acknowledged, equal ranking of state , cooperative ownership asserted, , private producers recognised, long did not violate collective interests . moderate liberalisation continued set in during ensuing years, act ii of 1983 set constitutional council, intending watch on constitutionality of legal rules giving internal review; , act x of 1987 limited presidential council s authority issue law-decrees. reforms accelerated in 1989, act envisaging establishment of constitutional court , lifting political restrictions on exercise of fundamental rights, , act viii introducing motion of no confidence vis-à-vis council of ministers , members.