Burundi: Constitution

Updated June 2005

CONSTITUTION	Transitional until 31 October 2004, extended until 30 April 2005[1]. Post-Transitional Constitution approved by referendum held on 28 February 2005.
FORM OF STATE	Republic.
HEAD OF STATE	The President is Head of State. The tenure of office is five years and the President is eligible for one re-election. The President is elected by universal suffrage with absolute majority. Presidents of the transitional period are not eligible. The first post transitional period President is elected by the National Assembly and the Senate sitting together as Congress with two-third majority. The President elected for the first post transitional period may not dissolve parliament.
EXECUTIVE	Executive power lies with the President, two Vice-Presidents and the members of the government. The Vice-Presidents belong to different ethnic groups and political parties. On a provincial level, executive powers are delegated to governors.
LEGISLATURE	The legislature comprises a bicameral Parliament, which consists of the National Assembly and the Senate. The National Assembly consists of 60 % Hutu and 40 % Tutsi members, of which at least 30 % are women, elected by universal adult suffrage. Three members of the Twa ethnic group are co-opted. General elections are to be held every 5 years. The Senate is composed of 2 members per province, three Twa members and former Presidents.
JUDICIARY	The judicial system comprises Courts and Tribunals. The judiciary is independent from the executive and legislative branches.

Footnote

[1] ACTE CONSTITUTIONNEL DE TRANSITION 1998; PROJET DE LA NOUVELLE CONSTITUTION POST-TRANSITION DE LA REPUBLIQUE DU BURUNDI 2005 [www] http://www.iss.org.za/AF/profiles/burundi/constsep04fr.pdf EN FRANÇAIS [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 22 Oct 2007). The Post-Transition Constitution was approved by a national referendum on February 28, 2005 by 90% of voters.