Suriname 1987 Constitution (reviewed 1992)

CHAPTER IX. PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC STATE ORGANIZATION

First Section. POLITICAL DEMOCRACY

Article 52

1. All political power is vested in the people and shall be exercised in accordance with the constitution.
2. Political democracy is characterized by the participation and representation of the Suriname people, which shall express itself through the participation of the people in laying down a democratic political regime, and through their participation in legislation and administration, aimed at the upholding and expanding of this system. Political democracy shall further create the conditions for the participation of the people in the general, free and secret elections for the composition of representative organs and of the Government.
3. Accountability to the people, supervision of government actions by institutions created for that purpose and the right of revocation with regard to elected representatives are guarantees for true democracy.

Second Section. POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS

Article 53

1. The State shall accept the freedom of citizens to create political organizations, subject to the limitations which stem from the law.
2. Political organizations shall respect the national sovereignty and democracy.
3. In exercising their rights the political organizations shall take into account the following:
   1. Their goals may not be in violation of or incompatible with the Constitution and the laws;
   2. The organization shall be accessible to the Suriname citizen, who fulfills criteria to be defined by law provided that he agrees upon the basic principles of the party.
   3. The internal organization must be democratic, which shall be evidenced inter alia by:
      • regular committee elections;
        
        the prerequisite that candidates proposed of the chamber of representatives shall be elected within the party structures;

   4. The electorate shall be informed of the political program and the election program of the political organizations;
   5. Annual publications of sources of income and accounts shall be made in the Official Journal of the Republic of Suriname and at least one newspaper;
   6. Their functioning shall be in accordance with principles of good administration, and with prescribed legal rules for the guaranteeing of openness and transparency;
   7. The drafting of a programme, with as sole goal the promotion of the national interest

Third Section. BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE ORGANS

Article 54

1. The State is obliged to register those with voting rights and to convoke them to participate in the elections. The registration of the voters shall serve no other purpose. Those with a right to vote are obliged to cooperate with the registration of the electorate.
2. For the organization and the functioning of the state organs the following principles shall be respected:
   1. Decisions of higher State organs shall be binding upon lower organs. This rule does not apply to judicial organs;
   2. Lower State organs shall be deemed to submit justification to the superior organs and to give account of their work;
   3. The administrative and executive institutions shall be subject to control by the representative bodies;
   4. The freedom of discussion, criticism and recognition of the minority by the majority shall apply in all councils and organs of the State;
   5. Those who hold political office shall be liable in civil and criminal law for their acts and omissions;
   6. Those who hold political office shall be under the obligation to fulfill their tasks in the public interest;
   7. No one shall be nominated for life in a political office;
   8. The central authority shall organize the regular dissemination of information on government policy and state administration, in order to allow the people to participate optimally in the administrative structures. The lower administration shall have the obligation to create a process of communication with the people, for the purpose of making government answerable to the public and to ensure the participation of the people in policy-making.