government : declaration of independence : constitution

The Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic, social, rule of law state. The state power is administered pursuant to the Constitution and the laws based on the principle of separation of the legislative, executive and judicial branches. The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia adopted on July 5, 1995, through a popular referendum provided legal guarantees of civil rights, the development of democratic institutions, and the creation of a market economy to secure the future stability of the Armenian state.

THE PRESIDENT

Armenia is a republic with a presidential governing system. The president is the head of state. According to Chapter 3, Article 49 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia,

"The President of the Republic of Armenia shall uphold the Constitution, and ensure the normal functioning of the legislative, executive and judicial authorities. The President of the Republic shall be the guarantor of the independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic."

The same person cannot hold the office of president for more than two consecutive terms. The people directly elect the President for a five-year term. The President's primary responsibility is the formulation of policy, the conduct of foreign and defense policies, and ensuring the normal functioning of state institutions. The first president of the Republic of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrossian, was elected on October 16, 1991. In 1998, he resigned. Then-Prime Minister Robert Kocharian became Acting President. Extraordinary elections were set for March 16, 1998. Because no candidate garnered 50% + 1 of the votes, the first round of elections required a run-off between the top two candidates from the 12 original candidates. Acting President Robert Kocharian was elected President of the Republic of Armenia on March 31, 1998.

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Chapter 5, Article 85 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia states:

"Executive power in the Republic of Armenia shall be vested in the Government of the Republic of Armenia.
The Government shall be composed of the Prime Minister and the Ministers. The powers of the Government shall be determined by the Constitution and by laws. The organization and rules of operation of the Government shall be determined by a decree of President of the Republic, upon recommendation of the Prime Minister."

THE CABINET

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Legislative power in the Republic of Armenia belongs to the National Assembly (Parliament), which implements its activities through sessions, permanent and temporary committees, as well as through its deputies.
The National Assembly is a single-chamber representative body. Its members are elected by a combination of single member district and proportional representation.

According to Chapter 4, Article 62 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia,

"Legislative power in the Republic of Armenia shall be vested in the National Assembly.
Under cases provided by Articles 59, 66, 73, 74, 78, 81, 83, 84, 111, 112 of the Constitution, as well as for purposes of organizing its own activities, the National Assembly shall adopt resolutions which shall be signed and published by its President.
The powers of the National Assembly are determined by the Constitution.
The National Assembly shall operate in accordance with its rules of procedure."

On May 25, 2003, the Republic of Armenia held its third scheduled parliamentary elections since independence. Following the new constitutional requirements, of the 131 deputies (or Members of Parliament) elected, 56 were elected through the majoritarian electoral system and 75 deputies were elected through the proportional representation system. The proportional representation system provides for seats for political parties and political blocs divided according to a proportional system.
The National Assembly is convened twice a year: in spring (from the first Monday of February to the second Wednesday of June) and autumn (from the second Monday of September to the second Wednesday of December). Extraordinary sessions may be convened by the President of the Republic at the initiative of the Government, or at least one third of the total number of deputies; and by the Chairman of the National Assembly at the initiative of the Government or at least one third of the total number of deputies.
The Chairman of the National Assembly is elected by a majority of votes in a secret ballot by the Members of Parliament. Chairman of the National Assembly is Artur Baghdasaryan. Vice-Chairmen are Vahan Hovhannisyan and Tigran Torosian.
Permanent parliamentary committees prepare and discuss legislation, acts, and issues that are under the powers of the National Assembly. They also oversee their implementation. There are six permanent committees in the National Assembly. If necessary, ad hoc committees are formed.

In conformity with Article 29 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, the members of Parliament who have been elected to the National Assembly by the proportional vote registered in party or election bloc lists, set up parliamentary factions irrespective the number of members of parliament.

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

In the Republic of Armenia justice is carried out by Courts in accordance with the Constitution and the Law. In the Republic of Armenia, the courts of general competence are: courts of first instance, review courts and the Court of Appeals. There are also economic, military and other courts provided by the Law. The President of the Republic serves as a guarantor of independence of judicial bodies. He is the Head of the Council of Justice.
On February 6, 1996, a Constitutional Court consisting of nine members (five appointed by Parliament and four by the President) was established. The responsibility of this court is to judge the constitutionality of the laws, Presidential decrees, and governmental resolutions. The Court also judges the constitutionality of international agreements and resolves disputes concerning the results of elections and referenda. In February 1996, the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia appointed Mr. Gagik Harutiunian the President of the Constitutional Court.
According to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, Chapter 6, Article 96,

"...A judge may hold office until the age of 65, while a member of the Constitutional Court may hold office until the age of 70. They may be removed from office only in accordance with the Constitution and the laws."
The present Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia operates based on the RoA Law "On Constitutional Court" adopted in 1995 and amended in December 1997.

Armenia is the only former Soviet Republic represented at the Council of the International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL.) The Council, founded in 1983, boasts over 100 member countries.

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
ROBERT KOCHARIAN

President Robert Kocharian was elected to the office in April 1998, marking the second presidential administration of the Republic of Armenia in post Soviet-independence.
The Kocharian Administration is known for its visionary leadership to integrate Armenia into regional and global economies with its open-door policy for international investments, participation in regional programs, and in its pursuit of a peaceful and lasting resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.
Robert Kocharian was born in 1954 in the capital of Nagorno-Karabagh, Stepanakert. He graduated from the Yerevan State Polytechnic Institute with an engineering degree. He married Bella Kocharian and they have three children.
Robert Kocharian's leadership began as early as 1989, when he became a key person in Nagorno-Karabagh's self-determination movement, one of the founders of the Miatsum (Unification) non-governmental organization, and an Adviser to the Chairman of the Executive Committee of Nagorno-Karabagh. In 1989, he was elected deputy to the Supreme Soviet (Parliament) of the Republic of Armenia as a representative of Nagorno-Karabagh.
In 1992, Robert Kocharian was appointed Prime Minister of Nagorno-Karabagh, while also heading the State Committee on Defense. Under military attack by the Azerbaijani military, he organized the Nagorno-Karabagh self-defense forces. Thanks to successive victories of the defense forces, both the people and the borders of Nagorno-Karabagh were once again safe and secure from Azerbaijani aggression. In May 1994, a cease-fire between Nagorno-Karabagh and Azerbaijan was negotiated, which still holds today.
Under Kocharian's leadership, Nagorno-Karabagh became a negotiating member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the settlement of the conflict. He also became the first Karabagh representative to negotiate directly on behalf of the people of Nagorno-Karabagh in international forums.
In 1994, by an overwhelming majority, Robert Kocharian was elected the first President of Nagorno-Karabagh. Kocharian's appeal that "a nation tested by the ordeal of war must pass the test of peace," marked the beginning of a large-scale social and economic rehabilitation of Nagorno-Karabagh.
In 1997, Armenia's First President, Levon Ter-Petrossian appointed Robert Kocharian as Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. While in office, he tackled issues of corruption and intensified efforts to institutionalize a free-market economy. After President Levon Ter-Petrossian's resignation, Robert Kocharian ran a charismatic and populist campaign against leading presidential candidate Karen Demirchian, and won the presidency in an open and fair election.
Sports, and particularly basketball, swimming and other water sports, and winter sports figure prominently among Robert Kocharian's hobbies. He also enjoys hunting. President Kocharian's favorite music is jazz.
source: official website of the president of the republic of armenia