Summaries of Articles published in French and Spanish
| Date | 01 June 1977 |
| Published date | 01 June 1977 |
| DOI | 10.1177/002085237704300211 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Summaries of Articles published in French
and Spanish
The Ivory Coast Political
the Head of the Administration, and makes
Institutions
civil and military appointments.
Appoint-
ments to certain higher offices of the State
E. KEI BOGUINARD
must be considered by the Council of Ministers.
’
The President has the right to initiate legis-
Ii lation, promulgates the laws, may have a bill
The Constitution of 3 November 1960
or certain of its articles read a second time
established the following presidential system
in the Assembly, and may refer bills and
based on the principle of the separation of
amendments to the Supreme Court (whose de-
powers.
Elected by universal direct suffrage,
.
cision is final) if he thinks they are outside
the President of the Republic and Head of
.
the domain of law and therefore inadmissible.
State is not politically answerable to ’the Na-
He may also call for a referendum with the
tional Assembly. The unicameral National
agreement of the Officers of the Assembly,
Assembly’s members are elected by universal
declare martial law at a meeting of the Council
suffrage for a period of five years. It passes
of Ministers, receive temporary authority from
bills in the domain of law, which is limited
’
the Assembly to deal by ordinance with matters
by the Constitution, and agrees to the taxation.
within the domain of law, and take emergency
The other major constitutional institutions are
measures after consultation with the President
the Supreme Court, the Economic and Social
of the National Assembly.
Council, and the High Court of Justice. The
Preamble to the Constitution and the guiding
’
The National Assembly comprises 120 depu-
principles of the State are imbued with French
ties and elects its President for the duration
traditions, viz. attachment to democracy and
!, of the legislature. It passes bills in the domain
human rights which are protected, a one and
j of law, including the finance bill, and the Cons-
indivisible Republic, sovereignty of the people,
I titution lists the fields in which laws prescribe
equality of all before the law, religious toler-
I rules and those in which they formulate prin-
ance, and prohibition of all racial discrimina-
) ciples. The Executive may issue regulations
tion.
) concerning any matters outside the domain
The President of the
/ of law.
Republic is elected
for five years and many be re-elected. He
)
The Supreme Court title in the Constitution
is both the Head of State and the Head of
simply mentions its four Divisions -
Constitu-
the Government, with the usual powers. As
tional, Judicature, Administrative, and Audit
Head of the State, he personifies national unity,
-
and that its membership, organization,
watches over respect for the Constitution, and
j
powers, and procedure are determined by a
ensures the continuance of the State.
He is
/ law. But, elsewhere, the Constitution grants
Chief of the Armed Forces. As Head of the
j
it wide authority to supervise presidential
Government, he is the sole holder of the
elections and referendums and attaches great
executive power. He appoints the ministers
importance to its opinions.
at his discretion, determines their powers, and
terminates their functions. They are respon-
The Judiciary is subject only to the law
sible to him alone.
They act in their own
and the President of the Republic is the
names within the limits of the powers fixed
guarantor of the judges’ independence. He
by the President or in his name when they
is assisted in this by the High Council of the
use powers of his that he has delegated to
Judiciary whose membership, organization, and
them.
In Council, under the chairmanship
.
procedure have been determined by law and
of the President, their opinion must be stated in
i which must be consulted before the appoint-
certain matters.
j
ment of judges. There is also a High Court
) of Justice, comprising deputies elected by the
The President, as Head of Government,
.
National Assembly, which is competent in the
shapes the course of the Nation’s policy, is
! event of high treason being alleged against the
i
President of the Republic or offences in the / may not be considered if they would involve
performance of their duties against members of
a diminution of receipts or an increase of
the Government.
expenditure, unless they are accompanied by
a proposal for equivalent revenues or econ-
The Economic and Social Council gives its
omies. Sound management is thus made pos-
opinion on any bills and draft ordinances or
sible.
The second principle is to control the
decrees submitted to it.
It is organized by
operating expenditure of administrative author-
a law.
ities whose unduly rapid growth might ulti-
mately imperil the financing of public invest-
Mention should also be made of the Ivory
/ ments. Between 1976 and 1977 the growth
Coast Democratic Party formed by the Presi-
dent of the Republic and of which the Presi-
j rate was only 12.7 per cent, which is among
the lowest of recent years, whereas, for the
dent of the National Assembly is General
,
Secretary. It is entrusted with reflecting the
/ same period, the first two sections of the
Investment and Equipment Budget were in-
people’s aspirations and is the steady working
j
~ creased by 105 per cent.
and driving machinery of the country’s political
I
life.
It also supports the State’s institutions
)
There has been a Minister of the Budget,
in their constant efforts towards fuller develop-
who took over from a Secretary of State ap-
ment and increased national solidarity.
pointed with the same responsibilities in 1971,
only since March 1976. He performs the
functions which devolve upon the Govern-
Budget Administration
! ment as regards the preparation, execution,
in the Ivory Coast
~ and control of the budgets and accounts pres-
~ cribed by law, approves local authorities’ bud-
A. KONE
! gets and accounts and those prescribed by
~
regulations, and is entrusted with the financial
! control of State and local administrative agen-
The national Budget is an essential instru-
~ cies.
ment for the implementation of the Govern-
:
ment’s economic and social development policy.
The Ministry of the Budget has a staff
For 1977, it totals over Fr.CFA 400,000...
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