o Rico
ratified 3 March 1952, approved by US Congress 3 July
1952, effective 25 July 1952

Qatar
ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by
the Emir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005

Reunion
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Romania
8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003

Russia
adopted 12 December 1993

Rwanda
new constitution adopted 4 June 2003

Saint Helena
1 January 1989

Saint Kitts and Nevis
19 September 1983

Saint Lucia
22 February 1979

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
27 October 1979

Samoa
1 January 1962

San Marino
8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the
functions of a constitution

Sao Tome and Principe
approved March 1990, effective 10 September
1990

Saudi Arabia
governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic
Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities
was introduced in 1993

Senegal
new constitution adopted 7 January 2001

Serbia and Montenegro
4 February 2003

Seychelles
18 June 1993

Sierra Leone
1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times

Singapore
3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on preindependence State
of Singapore Constitution)

Slovakia
ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993;
changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president;
amended February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU
membership

Slovenia
adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991

Solomon Islands
7 July 1978

Somalia
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as
the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing

South Africa
10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified
by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then
President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3
February 1997; it is being implemented in phases

Spain
6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978

Sri Lanka
adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; new
constitution proposed in 2002

Sudan
12 April 1973; suspended following coup of 6 April 1985;
interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of
30 June 1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 199