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The
1945 Constitution
The
Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia
is usually referred to as the 1945 Constitution.
This is partly because the constitution
was drafted and adopted in 1945 when the
Republic was established, and partly to
distinguish it from two other constitutions
which were introduced in free Indonesia.
Furthermore, the articles of the 1945 Constitution
spell out the ideals and the goals for which
independence was proclaimed on August 17,
1945, and defended thereafter. It reflects
the spirit, and vigor of the time when the
constitution was shaped. It was inspired
by the urge for unity and for the common
goals and democracy built upon the age-old
Indonesian concepts of gotong royong (mutual
assistance), deliberations of representatives
(musyawarah) and consensus (mufakat).
Preceded
by a preamble, the Constitution of the Republic
of Indonesia consists of 37 articles, four
transitional clauses and two additional
provisions. The preamble is composed of
four paragraphs and includes a condemnation
of any form of colonialism in the world,
a reference to lndonesia's struggle for
independence, a declaration of independence
and a statement of fundamental goals and
principles. It further states, inter alia,
that Indonesia's national independence shall
be established in the unitary state of the
Republic of Indonesia with sovereignty vested
in the people.
The
State shall be based upon the following
philosophical principles: Belief in the
One and Only God, just and civilized humanity,
the unity of Indonesia, democracy guided
by the inner wisdom of deliberations of
representatives, and social justice for
all the Indonesian people. Guided by these
fundamental principles, the basic aims of
the state are to establish an Indonesian
Government which shall protect all the Indonesian
people and their entire motherland, advance
the public welfare, develop the intellectual
life of the nation, and contribute towards
the establishment of a world order based
on freedom, peace and social justice.
