Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)
Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) with amending laws of:
21 March 1933 [shall come into force from 21 March 1933];
27 January 1994 [shall come into force from 26 February 1994];
5 June 1996 [shall come into force from 26 June 1996];
4 December 1997 [shall come into force from 31 December 1997];
15 October 1998 [shall come into force from 6 November 1998];
30 April 2002 [shall come into force from 24 May 2002];
8 May 2003 [shall come into force from 5 June 2003];
23 September 2004 [shall come into force from 21 October 2004];
15 December 2005 [shall come into force from 17 January 2005];
3 May 2007 [shall come into force from 31 May 2007];
8 April 2009 [shall come into force from 2 November 2009];
19 September 2013 [shall come into force from 18 October 2013];
19 June 2014 [shall come into force from 22 July 2014];
19 May 2016 [shall come into force from 14 June 2016];
4 October 2018 [shall come into force from 1 January 2019].
If a whole or part of a section has been amended, the date of the amending law appears in square brackets at the
end of the section. If a whole section, paragraph or clause has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears in
square brackets beside the deleted section, paragraph or clause.
Adopted by the Constitutional Assembly
in a joint meeting on 15 February 1922
THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA
The State of Latvia, proclaimed on 18 November 1918, has been established by
uniting historical Latvian lands and on the basis of the unwavering will of the Latvian nation
to have its own State and its inalienable right of self-determination in order to guarantee the
existence and development of the Latvian nation, its language and culture throughout the
centuries, to ensure freedom and promote welfare of the people of Latvia and each individual.
The people of Latvia won their State in the War of Liberation. They consolidated the
system of government and adopted the Constitution in a freely elected Constitutional
Assembly.
The people of Latvia did not recognise the occupation regimes, resisted them and
regained their freedom by restoring national independence on 4 May 1990 on the basis of
continuity of the State. They honour their freedom fighters, commemorate victims of foreign
powers, condemn the Communist and Nazi totalitarian regimes and their crimes.
Latvia as democratic, socially responsible and national state is based on the rule of law
and on respect for human dignity and freedom; it recognises and protects fundamental human
rights and respects ethnic minorities. The people of Latvia protect their sovereignty, national
independence, territory, territorial integrity and democratic system of government of the State
of Latvia.
Since ancient times, the identity of Latvia in the European cultural space has been
shaped by Latvian and Liv traditions, Latvian folk wisdom, the Latvian language, universal
human and Christian values. Loyalty to Latvia, the Latvian language as the only official
language, freedom, equality, solidarity, justice, honesty, work ethic and family are the
foundations of a cohesive society. Each individual takes care of oneself, one’s relatives and
the common good of society by acting responsibly toward other people, future generations,
the environment and nature.
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 2
While acknowledging its equal status in the international community, Latvia protects
its national interests and promotes sustainable and democratic development of a united
Europe and the world.
God, bless Latvia!
[19 June 2014]
Chapter I.
General Provisions
1. Latvia is an independent democratic republic.
2. The sovereign power of the State of Latvia is vested in the people of Latvia.
3. The territory of the State of Latvia, within the borders established by international
agreements, consists of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale.
4. The Latvian language is the official language in the Republic of Latvia. The national flag of
Latvia shall be red with a band of white.
[15 October 1998]
Chapter II.
The Saeima [Parliament of the Republic of Latvia]
5. The Saeima shall be composed of one hundred representatives of the people.
6. The Saeima shall be elected in general, equal and direct elections, and by secret ballot
based on proportional representation.
7. In the division of Latvia into separate electoral districts, provision for the number of
members of the Saeima to be elected from each district shall be proportional to the number of
electors in each district.
8. All citizens of Latvia who enjoy full rights of citizenship and, who on election day have
attained eighteen years of age shall be entitled to vote.
[27 January 1994]
9. Any citizen of Latvia, who enjoys full rights of citizenship and, who is more than twenty-
one years of age on the first day of elections may be elected to the Saeima.
10. The Saeima shall be elected for a term of four years.
[4 December 1997]
11. Elections for the Saeima shall be held on the first Saturday in October.
[4 December 1997]
12. The newly elected Saeima shall hold its first sitting on the first Tuesday in November,
when the mandate of the previous Saeima shall expire.
13. Should elections for the Saeima, by reason of the dissolution of the previous Saeima, be
held at another time of the year, the Saeima so elected shall convene not later than one month
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 3
after its election, and its mandate shall expire upon the convening of the new Saeima on the
first Tuesday in November following the elapse of three years after such election.
[4 December 1997]
14. Not less than one tenth of electors has the right to initiate a national referendum regarding
recalling of the Saeima. If the majority of voters and at least two thirds of the number of the
voters who participated in the last elections of the Saeima vote in the national referendum
regarding recalling of the Saeima, then the Saeima shall be deemed recalled. The right to
initiate a national referendum regarding recalling of the Saeima may not be exercised one year
after the convening of the Saeima and one year before the end of the term of office of the
Saeima, during the last six months of the term of office of the President, as well as earlier than
six months after the previous national referendum regarding recalling of the Saeima.
The electors may not recall any individual member of the Saeima.
[8 April 2009]
15. The Saeima shall hold its sittings in Rīga, and only in extraordinary circumstances may it
convene elsewhere.
16. The Saeima shall elect a Presidium that shall be composed of a Chairperson, two Deputies
and Secretaries. The Presidium shall function continuously during the mandate of the Saeima.
17. The first sitting of the newly elected Saeima shall be opened by the Chairperson of the
preceding Saeima or by another member of the Presidium at the direction of the Presidium.
18. The Saeima itself shall review the qualifications of its members.
A person elected to the Saeima shall acquire the mandate of a Member of the Saeima if such
person gives the following solemn promise:
“I, upon assuming the duties of a Member of the Saeima, before the people of Latvia,
do swear (solemnly promise) to be loyal to Latvia, to strengthen its sovereignty and the
Latvian language as the only official language, to defend Latvia as an independent and
democratic State, and to fulfil my duties honestly and conscientiously. I undertake to observe
the Constitution and laws of Latvia."
[30 April 2002]
19. The Presidium shall convene sessions of the Saeima and schedule regular and
extraordinary sittings.
20. The Presidium shall convene sittings of the Saeima if requested by the President, the
Prime Minister, or not less than one third of the members of the Saeima.
21. The Saeima shall establish rules of order to provide for its internal operations and order.
The working language of the Saeima is the Latvian language.
[30 April 2002]
22. Sittings of the Saeima shall be public. The Saeima may decide by a majority vote of not
less than two-thirds of the members present to sit in closed session, if so requested by ten
members of the Saeima, or by the President, the Prime Minister, or a Minister.
23. Sittings of the Saeima may take place if at least half of the members of the Saeima
participate therein.
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 4
24. The Saeima shall make decisions by an absolute majority of votes of the members present
at the sitting, except in cases specifically set out in the Constitution.
25. The Saeima shall establish committees and determine the number of members and their
duties. Committees have the right to require of individual Ministers or local government
authorities information and explanations necessary for the work of the committees, and the
right to invite to their sittings responsible representatives from the relevant ministries or local
government authorities to furnish explanations. Committees may also carry on their work
between sessions of the Saeima.
26. The Saeima shall appoint parliamentary investigatory committees for specified matters if
not less than one-third of its members request it.
27. The Saeima shall have the right to submit to the Prime Minister or to an individual
Minister requests and questions which either they, or a responsible government official duly
authorised by them, must answer. The Prime Minister or any Minister shall furnish the
relevant documents and enactments requested by the Saeima or by any of its committees.
28. Members of the Saeima may not be called to account by any judicial, administrative or
disciplinary process in connection with their voting or their views as expressed during the
execution of their duties. Court proceedings may be brought against members of the Saeima if
they, albeit in the course of performing parliamentary duties, disseminate:
1) defamatory statements which they know to be false, or
2) defamatory statements about private or family life.
29. Members of the Saeima shall not be arrested, nor shall their premises be searched, nor
shall their personal liberty be restricted in any way without the consent of the Saeima.
Members of the Saeima may be arrested if apprehended in the act of committing a crime. The
Presidium shall be notified within twenty-four hours of the arrest of any member of the
Saeima; the Presidium shall raise the matter at the next sitting of the Saeima for decision as to
whether the member shall continue to be held in detention or be released. When the Saeima is
not in session, pending the opening of a session, the Presidium shall decide whether the
member of the Saeima shall remain in detention.
30. Without the consent of the Saeima, criminal prosecution may not be commenced against
its member.
[19 May 2016]
31. Members of the Saeima have the right to refuse to give evidence:
1) concerning persons who have entrusted to them, as representatives of the people,
certain facts or information;
2) concerning persons to whom they, as representatives of the people, have entrusted
certain facts or information; or
3) concerning such facts or information itself.
32. Members of the Saeima may not, either personally or in the name of another person,
receive government contracts or concessions. The provisions of this Article shall apply to
Ministers even if they are not members of the Saeima.
33. The remuneration of members of the Saeima shall be from state funds.
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 5
34. No person may be called to account for reporting the sittings of the Saeima or its
committees if such reports correspond to fact. Information about closed sessions of either the
Saeima or its committees may only be disclosed with the permission of the Presidium of the
Saeima or the committee.
Chapter III.
The President
35. The Saeima shall elect the President for a term of four years.
[4 December 1997]
36. The President shall be elected by open ballot with a majority of the votes of not less than
fifty-one members of the Saeima.
[4 October 2018]
37. Any person who enjoys full rights of citizenship and who has attained the age of forty
years may be elected President. A person with dual citizenship may not be elected President.
[4 December 1997]
38. The office of the President shall not be held concurrently with any other office. If the
person elected as President is a member of the Saeima, he or she shall resign his or her
mandate as a member of the Saeima.
39. The same person shall not hold office as President for more than eight consecutive years.
[4 December 1997]
40. The President, upon taking up the duties of office, at a sitting of the Saeima, shall take the
following solemn oath: “I swear that all of my work will be dedicated to the welfare of the
people of Latvia. I will do everything in my power to promote the prosperity of the Republic
of Latvia and all who live here. I will hold sacred and will observe the Constitution of Latvia
and the laws of the State. I will act justly towards all and will fulfil my duties
conscientiously.”
[3 May 2007]
41. The President shall represent the State in international relations, appoint the diplomatic
representatives of Latvia, and also receive diplomatic representatives of other states. The
President shall implement the decisions of the Saeima concerning the ratification of
international agreements.
42. The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Latvia. During
wartime, the President shall appoint a Supreme Commander.
43. The President shall declare war on the basis of a decision of the Saeima.
44. The President has the right to take whatever steps are necessary for the military defence of
the State should another state declare war on Latvia or an enemy invade its borders.
Concurrently and without delay, the President shall convene the Saeima, which shall decide as
to the declaration and commencement of war.
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 6
45. The President has the right to grant clemency to criminals against whom judgment of the
court has come into legal effect. The extent of, and procedures for, the utilisation of this right
shall be set out in a specific law. The Saeima grants amnesty.
[4 December 1997]
46. The President has the right to convene and to preside over extraordinary meetings of the
Cabinet and to determine the agenda of such meetings.
47. The President has the right to initiate legislation.
48. The President shall be entitled to propose the dissolution of the Saeima. Following this
proposal, a national referendum shall be held. If in the referendum more than half of the votes
are cast in favour of dissolution, the Saeima shall be considered dissolved, new elections
called, and such elections held no later than two months after the date of the dissolution of the
Saeima.
49. If the Saeima has been dissolved or recalled, the mandate of the members of the Saeima
shall continue to be in effect until the convening of the newly elected Saeima, but the former
Saeima may only hold sittings upon the request of the President. The President shall
determine the agenda of such sittings of the Saeima. New elections shall take place not earlier
than one month and not later than two months after recalling of the Saeima.
[8 April 2009]
50. If in the referendum more than half of the votes are cast against the dissolution of the
Saeima, then the President shall be deemed to be removed from office, and the Saeima shall
elect a new President to serve for the remaining term of office of the President so removed.
51. Upon the proposal of not less than half of all of the members of the Saeima, the Saeima
may decide, in closed session and with a majority vote of not less than two-thirds of all of its
members, to remove the President from office. Following such a decision, the Saeima shall
elect a new President without delay.
52. If the President resigns from office, dies or is removed from office before their term has
ended, the Chairperson of the Saeima shall assume the duties of the President until the Saeima
has elected a new President. Similarly, the Chairperson of the Saeima shall assume the duties
of the President if the latter is away from Latvia or for any other reason unable to fulfil the
duties of office.
53. Political responsibility for the fulfilment of presidential duties shall not be borne by the
President. All orders of the President shall be jointly signed by the Prime Minister or by the
appropriate Minister, who shall thereby assume full responsibility for such orders except in
the cases specified in Articles forty-eight and fifty-six.
54. The President may be subject to criminal liability if the Saeima consents thereto by a
majority vote of not less than two-thirds.
Chapter IV.
The Cabinet
55. The Cabinet shall be composed of the Prime Minister and the Ministers chosen by the
Prime Minister.
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 7
56. The Cabinet shall be formed by the person who has been invited by the President to do so.
57. The number of ministries and the scope of their responsibilities, as well as the relations
between State institutions, shall be as provided for by law.
58. The administrative institutions of the State shall be under the authority of the Cabinet.
59. In order to fulfil their duties, the Prime Minister and other Ministers must have the
confidence of the Saeima and they shall be accountable to the Saeima for their actions. If the
Saeima expresses no confidence in the Prime Minister, the entire Cabinet shall resign. If there
is an expression of no confidence in an individual Minister, then the Minister shall resign and
another person shall be invited to replace them by the Prime Minister.
60. Meetings of the Cabinet shall be chaired by the Prime Minister, and in the absence of the
Prime Minister, by a Minister authorised to do so by the Prime Minister.
61. The Cabinet shall deliberate draft laws prepared by individual ministries as well as matters
which pertain to the activities of more than one ministry, and issues of State policy raised by
individual members of Cabinet.
62. If the State is threatened by an external enemy, or if an internal insurrection which
endangers the existing political system arises or threatens to arise in the State or in any part of
the State, the Cabinet has the right to proclaim a state of emergency and shall inform the
Presidium within twenty-four hours and the Presidium shall, without delay, present such
decision of the Cabinet to the Saeima.
63. Ministers, even if they are not members of the Saeima, and responsible government
officials authorised by a Minister, have the right to attend sittings of the Saeima and its
committees and to submit additions and amendments to draft laws.
Chapter V.
Legislation
64. The Saeima, and also the people, have the right to legislate, in accordance with the
procedures, and to the extent, provided for by this Constitution.
65. Draft laws may be submitted to the Saeima by the President, the Cabinet or committees of
the Saeima, by not less than five members of the Saeima, or, in accordance with the
procedures and in the cases provided for in this Constitution, by one-tenth of the electorate.
66. Annually, before the commencement of each financial year, the Saeima shall determine
the State Revenues and Expenditures Budget, the draft of which shall be submitted to the
Saeima by the Cabinet.
If the Saeima makes a decision that involves expenditures not included in the Budget,
then this decision must also allocate funds to cover such expenditures.
After the end of the budgetary year, the Cabinet shall submit an accounting of
budgetary expenditures for the approval of the Saeima.
67. The Saeima shall determine the size of the armed forces of the State during peacetime.
68. All international agreements, which settle matters that may be decided by the legislative
process, shall require ratification by the Saeima.
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 8
Upon entering into international agreements, Latvia, with the purpose of strengthening
democracy, may delegate a part of its State institution competencies to international
institutions. The Saeima may ratify international agreements in which a part of State
institution competencies are delegated to international institutions in sittings in which at least
two-thirds of the members of the Saeima participate, and a two-thirds majority vote of the
members present is necessary for ratification.
Membership of Latvia in the European Union shall be decided by a national
referendum, which is proposed by the Saeima.
Substantial changes in the terms regarding the membership of Latvia in the European
Union shall be decided by a national referendum if such referendum is requested by at least
one-half of the members of the Saeima.
[8 May 2003]
69. The President shall proclaim laws passed by the Saeima not earlier than the tenth day and
not later than the twenty-first day after the law has been adopted. A law shall come into force
fourteen days after its proclamation unless a different term has been specified in the law.
[23 September 2004]
70. The President shall proclaim adopted laws in the following manner: “The Saeima (that is,
the People) has adopted and the President has proclaimed the following law: (text of the
law).”
71. Within ten days of the adoption of a law by the Saeima, the President, by means of a
written and reasoned request to the Chairperson of the Saeima, may require that a law be
reconsidered. If the Saeima does not amend the law, the President then may not raise
objections a second time.
[23 September 2004]
72. The President has the right to suspend the proclamation of a law for a period of two
months. The President shall suspend the proclamation of a law if so requested by not less than
one-third of the members of the Saeima. This right may be exercised by the President, or by
one-third of the members of the Saeima, within ten days of the adoption of the law by the
Saeima. The law thus suspended shall be put to a national referendum if so requested by not
less than one-tenth of the electorate. If no such request is received during the aforementioned
two-month period, the law shall then be proclaimed after the expiration of such period. A
national referendum shall not take place, however, if the Saeima again votes on the law and
not less than three-quarters of all members of the Saeima vote for the adoption of the law.
[23 September 2004]
73. The Budget and laws concerning loans, taxes, customs duties, railroad tariffs, military
conscription, declaration and commencement of war, peace treaties, declaration of a state of
emergency and its termination, mobilisation and demobilisation, as well as agreements with
other nations may not be submitted to national referendum.
74. A law adopted by the Saeima and suspended pursuant to the procedures specified in
Article seventy-two shall be repealed by national referendum if the number of voters is at
least half of the number of electors as participated in the previous Saeima election and if the
majority has voted for repeal of the law.
[21 March 1933]
75. Should the Saeima, by not less than a two thirds majority vote, determine a law to be
urgent, the President may not request reconsideration of such law, it may not be submitted to
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 9
national referendum, and the adopted law shall be proclaimed no later than the third day after
the President has received it.
76. The Saeima may amend the Constitution in sittings at which at least two-thirds of the
members of the Saeima participate. The amendments shall be passed in three readings by a
majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present.
77. If the Saeima has amended the first, second, third, fourth, sixth or seventy-seventh Article
of the Constitution, such amendments, in order to come into force as law, shall be submitted
to a national referendum.
[15 October 1998]
78. Electors, in number comprising not less than one tenth of the electorate, have the right to
submit a fully elaborated draft of an amendment to the Constitution or of a law to the
President, who shall present it to the Saeima. If the Saeima does not adopt it without change
as to its content, it shall then be submitted to national referendum.
79. An amendment to the Constitution submitted for national referendum shall be deemed
adopted if at least half of the electorate has voted in favour.
A draft law, decision regarding membership of Latvia in the European Union or
substantial changes in the terms regarding such membership submitted for national
referendum shall be deemed adopted if the number of voters is at least half of the number of
electors as participated in the previous Saeima election and if the majority has voted in favour
of the draft law, membership of Latvia in the European Union or substantial changes in the
terms regarding such membership.
[8 May 2003]
80. All citizens of Latvia who have the right to vote in elections of the Saeima may participate
in national referendums.
81.
[3 May 2007]
Chapter VI.
Courts
82. In Latvia, court cases shall be heard by district (city) courts, regional courts and the
Supreme Court, but in the event of war or a state of emergency, also by military courts.
[15 October 1998]
83. Judges shall be independent and subject only to the law.
84. Judicial appointments shall be confirmed by the Saeima and they shall be irrevocable. The
Saeima may remove judges from office against their will only in the cases provided for by
law, based upon a decision of the Judicial Disciplinary Board or a judgment of the Court in a
criminal case. The age of retirement from office for judges may be determined by law.
[4 December 1997]
85. In Latvia, there shall be a Constitutional Court, which, within its jurisdiction as provided
for by law, shall review cases concerning the conformity of laws with the Constitution, as
well as other cases conferred within the jurisdiction thereof by law. The Constitutional Court
is entitled to declare laws or other enactments or parts thereof invalid. The Saeima shall
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 10
confirm the appointment of judges to the Constitutional Court for the term provided for by
law, with a majority of the votes of not less than fifty-one members of the Saeima.
[19 September 2013]
86. Decisions in court proceedings may be made only by bodies upon which jurisdiction
regarding such has been conferred by law, and only in accordance with procedures provided
for by law. Military courts shall act on the basis of a specific law.
Chapter VII.
The State Audit Office
87. The State Audit Office shall be an independent collegial institution.
88. Auditors General shall be appointed to their office and confirmed pursuant to the same
procedures as judges, but only for a fixed period of time, during which they may be removed
from office only by a judgment of the Court. A specific law shall provide for the organisation
and responsibilities of the State Audit Office.
Chapter VIII.
Fundamental Human Rights
[15 October 1998]
89. The State shall recognise and protect fundamental human rights in accordance with this
Constitution, laws and international agreements binding upon Latvia.
90. Everyone has the right to know about his or her rights.
91. All human beings in Latvia shall be equal before the law and the courts. Human rights
shall be realised without discrimination of any kind.
92. Everyone has the right to defend his or her rights and lawful interests in a fair court.
Everyone shall be presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been established in accordance
with law. Everyone, where his or her rights are violated without basis, has a right to
commensurate compensation. Everyone has a right to the assistance of counsel.
93. The right to life of everyone shall be protected by law.
94. Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one may be deprived of or
have their liberty restricted, otherwise than in accordance with law.
95. The State shall protect human honour and dignity. Torture or other cruel or degrading
treatment of human beings is prohibited. No one shall be subjected to inhuman or degrading
punishment.
96. Everyone has the right to inviolability of his or her private life, home and correspondence.
97. Everyone residing lawfully in the territory of Latvia has the right to freely move and to
choose his or her place of residence.
98. Everyone has the right to freely depart from Latvia. Everyone having a Latvian passport
shall be protected by the State when abroad and has the right to freely return to Latvia. A
citizen of Latvia may not be extradited to a foreign country, except in the cases provided for
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 11
in international agreements ratified by the Saeima if by the extradition the basic human rights
specified in the Constitution are not violated.
[23 September 2004]
99. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The church shall
be separate from the State.
100. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freely
receive, keep and distribute information and to express his or her views. Censorship is
prohibited.
101. Every citizen of Latvia has the right, as provided for by law, to participate in the work of
the State and of local government, and to hold a position in the civil service.
Local governments shall be elected by Latvian citizens and citizens of the European Union
who permanently reside in Latvia. Every citizen of the European Union who permanently
resides in Latvia has the right, as provided by law, to participate in the work of local
governments. The working language of local governments is the Latvian language.
[23 September 2004]
102. Everyone has the right to form and join associations, political parties and other public
organisations.
103. The State shall protect the freedom of previously announced peaceful meetings, street
processions, and pickets.
104. Everyone has the right to address submissions to State or local government institutions
and to receive a materially responsive reply. Everyone has the right to receive a reply in the
Latvian language.
[30 April 2002]
105. Everyone has the right to own property. Property shall not be used contrary to the
interests of the public. Property rights may be restricted only in accordance with law.
Expropriation of property for public purposes shall be allowed only in exceptional cases on
the basis of a specific law and in return for fair compensation.
106. Everyone has the right to freely choose their employment and workplace according to
their abilities and qualifications. Forced labour is prohibited. Participation in the relief of
disasters and their effects, and work pursuant to a court order shall not be deemed forced
labour.
107. Every employed person has the right to receive, for work done, commensurate
remuneration which shall not be less than the minimum wage established by the State, and has
the right to weekly holidays and a paid annual vacation.
108. Employed persons have the right to a collective labour agreement, and the right to strike.
The State shall protect the freedom of trade unions.
109. Everyone has the right to social security in old age, for work disability, for
unemployment and in other cases as provided by law.
Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) 12
110. The State shall protect and support marriage – a union between a man and a woman, the
family, the rights of parents and rights of the child. The State shall provide special support to
disabled children, children left without parental care or who have suffered from violence.
[15 December 2005]
111. The State shall protect human health and guarantee a basic level of medical assistance
for everyone.
112. Everyone has the right to education. The State shall ensure that everyone may acquire
primary and secondary education without charge. Primary education shall be compulsory.
113. The State shall recognise the freedom of scientific research, artistic and other creative
activity, and shall protect copyright and patent rights.
114. Persons belonging to ethnic minorities have the right to preserve and develop their
language and their ethnic and cultural identity.
115. The State shall protect the right of everyone to live in a benevolent environment by
providing information about environmental conditions and by promoting the preservation and
improvement of the environment.
116. The rights of persons set out in Articles ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, one
hundred, one hundred and two, one hundred and three, one hundred and six, and one hundred
and eight of the Constitution may be subject to restrictions in circumstances provided for by
law in order to protect the rights of other people, the democratic structure of the State, and
public safety, welfare and morals. On the basis of the conditions set forth in this Article,
restrictions may also be imposed on the expression of religious beliefs.
President of the Constitutional Assembly J. Čakste
Secretary of the Constitutional Assembly R. Ivanovs