The Constitution of the Czech Republic of 1992

The Czech Republic adopted a new constitution in 1992, following the division of Czechoslovakia into the Czech and Slovak Republics. In many ways the Constitution of 1992 recalls the formative days of Czech democracy, when the country was born in the aftermath of World War I. Today's constitution is largely based on the Czechoslovak Constitution of 1920, yet follows a long period of inattention to constitutional issues. The author, now, with the Library of Congress, received his legal training in Czechoslovakia. In this Article, he elucidates the basic tenets of the new constitution, and, in the process, compares it with its progenitors.

The author's observations add subtlety to our understanding of the different systems communists and republicans use to rule the Czech Republic and the problems that may lie ahead for the young nation. The Article concludes that, despite imperfections, the Constitution of 1992 is a solid document that will enable the Czech Republic to earn respect at home and abroad.