Constitutional Assembly of Estonia

“ 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 State language of the Esthonian Republic is Esthonian.
II. On the Fundamental Rights of Esthonian Citizens.
Par. 6. All Esthonian citizens are equal in the eyes of law. There cannot be any public privileges or prejudices derived from birth, religion, sex, rank, or nationality. In Esthonia there are no legal class division or titles.
Par. 7. The Esthonian Republic confers no decorations or marks of distinction on its citizens, excepting members of the defence forces in time of war. Esthonian citizens have likewise no right to accept orders or distinctions from Foreign States. ”

“ In those parts where the majority of the inhabitants are not Esthonian but local minority nationals, the business language in the local self-government institutions can be in the language of these minority nationals, whilst everybody has the right to use the State language in such institutions. The local self-government institutions in which the language of the minority is used must in their intercourse with State institutions employ the State language, as also with other local self-government institutions where the language of this minority nationality is not used. ”

“ The State Assembly consists of 100 menbers elected by universal, equal, direct and secret suffrage on the principle of proportional representation. The State Assembly has the right to augment the number of its members. ”

“ The organisation of the economic life in Esthonia must correspond with the principles of justice, the object of which is the securing of conditions of living worthy of human beings by corresponding laws relating to the acquiring of land for cultivation and a home, and the obtaining of employment, as well as the necessary support for the protection of maternity, labour, youth, old age, disability, and in cases of accident. ”

“ The Republican Government must possess the confidence of the State Assembly. The Government or its members have to resign if the State Assembly express a direct declaration of absence of confidence in them. ”

“ In the second ballot the candidate securing the greatest number of votes is considered elected. If candidates obtain an equal number of votes, the oldest candidate is considered elected.
Every enfranchised citizen arrived at the age of forty, who is proposed by 10,000 at the least of the enfranchised citizens, has the right to participate in the election of the State Head. The detailed procedure for the election of the State Head shall be determined by the law. ”

“ The right of private property is guaranteed in Esthonia to every citizen. Without the owner's consent it can be expropriated only in the common interest in accordance with the corresponding laws and in the ways foreseen in the laws. ”

“ The practice of religious acts is not hindered, provided it does not interfere with public order and morals.
Creed and outlook cannot be made the excuse for any offence or for the avoiding of the duties of a citizen. ”