Constitutional Assembly of Estonia

“ No one can exercise the power of the State otherwise than in accordance with the Constitution and the laws based thereon.
The Constitution is the unalternable rule for the guidance of the President of the Republic, the National Assembly, the Government of the Republic and of courts of justice in their respective functions.
Art. 4. In Estonia only such laws have effect which have been put into force by her own institutions.
The universally recognized precepts of International Law are valid as inseparable parts of the Estonian legal order.
No one can plead ignorance of the law as an excuse. ”

“ Education is compulsory for children arrived at the school age, and is gratuitious in elementary schools. The minority nationalities are guaranteed education in their mother tongue. Education is carried out under the control of Government.
Autonomy is guaranteed to high scools within the limits foreseen by the statutes of the institutions passed in legislative acts.
Par. 13. In Esthonia there is freedom for the expression of personal ideas in words, print, letters, pictures, and sculpture. This freedom can be restricted only in the defence of the State and morals. ”

“ Every enfranchised Estonian citizen has the right to participate in the election of the members of the Chamber of Deputies, if he has had his domicile or work in the respective constituency or the respective administrative unit for at least one year preceding the election; those who for reasons connected with their professional activity have a new domicile or a new place of work or those who are absent from their domicile or place of work have the right to vote in the constituency of their new domicile or their new place of work. ”

“ No one can be prosecuted except in cases and ways foreseen by the law. Unless caught in the act no person can be arrested or the personal liberty be restricted otherwise than by decision of the judicial authorities, and this decision, with all grounds, must be communicated to the person arrested at the latest three days after arrest. Any citizen has the right to demand the communication of the above decision to the imprisoned, if this has not been done in the period mentioned. ”

“ The citizens engaged in military service have all the rights and duties of citizens as laid down in the Constitution and the laws, in so far as the law has not introduced exceptions to these rights and duties in the interests of military discipline and the particular conditions of the service. ”

“ It is the right and duty of every citizen to find work for himself. The state assists in procuring work.
Work is under protection of the State. The settlement of labour disputes, strikes included, is regulated by the law.
Art. 28. Assisting a person in need is primarily the duty of members of his family.
The law organizes assistance for citizens in the case of old age, incapacity to work or powerty, by social insurance or welfare work. Voluntary welfare work is favoured. ”

“ Instruction and education in schools and educational institutions is organized and supervised by the State and must be disseminated in accordance with the Estonian public spirit.
The mental, moral and physical development of youth into good and deserving Estonian citizens is one of the foremost duties of the parents as well as of the State and the local government bodies. ”

“ The Chamber of Deputies has a court of honour, the composition, procedure and jurisdiction of which, inasmuch as it does not affect persons not belonging to the National Assembly shall be determined by the standing order of the National Assembly. ”

“ In time of war the Commander-in-Chief has the right, in the interests of military operations, to issue instructions and orders with regard to the organization of the national defence even to officials and institutions not under his control. ”