Constitution of Timor-Leste

The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste was drafted by a Constituent Assembly elected in 2001, approved on 22 March 2002 by a vote of 65 to 14 with the Fretilin and ASDT parties in support and opposition parties dissenting, and ratified on 20 May 2002, entering into force upon Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia. Modeled largely on the Portuguese constitution, it names Portuguese the official language with Tetum as co-official, and its seven parts cover basic principles, fundamental rights, political organization, the economy, defense, constitutional guarantees and transitional provisions, establishing a semi-presidential structure with a President, Prime Minister, National Parliament and independent judiciary. It has not undergone major revision since adoption, though the Constitutional Court has issued interpretive rulings.