GOD COUNTRY AND FREEDOM

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
In the Name of the Triune God, AUTHOR
And supreme Ruler of the universe

Representatives of the peoples of the former Spanish part of the island of Santo Domingo,
meeting Sovereign Constituent Congress, fulfilling the wishes of his constituents, who have
vowed not to disarm until they consolidate their political independence, setting the cornerstones
of his government and secure the inalienable rights of security, property, freedom and equality
have ordered and decreed as follows
CONSTITUTION
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
TITLE I
NATION
Art. 1. - Dominicans are free, independent and sovereign nation, with, republican, popular,
representative, and accountable essentially elective civilian government.

TITLE II
TERRITORY
Art. 2. - The Spanish part of the island of Santo Do mingo and its adjacent Islands form the
territory of the Dominican Republic.
Art. 3. - The boundaries of the Dominican Republic, are the same as in 1793 divided by the west
side of the French part, and these limits are permanently set.
Art. 4. - The territory of the Republic is divided into five provinces that are: Compostela Azua,
Santo Domingo, El Seibo, La Concepcion de la Vega and Santiago de los Caballeros.
Art. 5. - These provinces are subdivided into Common, their number and distribution will be
fixed by law.
Art. 6. - The City of Santo Domingo is the capital of the Republic and seat of government.
TITLE III
Dominicans AND THEIR RIGHTS
CHAPTER I

Dominicans
Art. 7. - Dominicans are:
First: All individuals who at the time of publication of this Constitution, enjoy this quality.
Second: Everyone born in the territory of the Dominican Republic to Dominican parents, and
having emigrated again to take up residence there.
Third: All Dominicans Spaniards and their descendants who, having emigrated in 1844, have not
taken up arms against the Dominican Republic, or have harassed in any way, and come back to
take up residence there.
Fourth: All descendants of natives of the Spanish part born in foreign countries come to take up
residence in the Republic.
Art. 8. - They are working to become Dominicans:
First: All foreigners acquiring the real estate Republic whose value amounts to six thousand
pesos.
Second: Anyone who personally working, forming an establishment in the Republic of
agriculture by way of owners.
Art. 9. - Foreigners within the preceding article does not enjoy political rights, but after a sixyear residence in the territory.
This period is reduced to three years for foreigners:
First, that marriage contract in the country with Dominican.
Second, that formed in the Republic, a closed setting agriculture, whose capital is twelve
thousand pesos at least.
10. Art. - The foreigner who is in one of these categories, will go to the executive branch, which
is authorized to issue letters of naturalization, subject to the formalities prescribed by law,
properly understood, they do not enjoy this grace foreigners belonging to an enemy nation.
Art 11. -. A foreign national, it must be kept for at least fifteen years, the quality by which
acquired naturalization. In case of voluntary change of category, he loses the rights he had
acquired, it becomes regarded as a foreigner and is subject to the same formalities to get back
their naturalization.
Art 12. -. The Haitians naturalized aliens residing in the territory of the Dominican Republic on
February 27, 1844, and not to follow the Dominican cause invoked their quality of foreigners,
they will be considered as such and subject to a third more the periods stipulated in Article 9,
without prejudice to any other formalities referred to in articles 8, 10 and 11.
Art. 13. - All foreigners belonging to an enemy nation, will be admitted to the territory of the
Republic, if they profess some art, science or useful industry, the enjoyment of civil rights; since

they enter the Dominican territory are under the safeguard of the national honor, and enjoy the
protection granted to persons and property conforming to the law.
CHAPTER II
public right of Dominicans
Art 14. -. The Dominicans are born and remain free and equal in rights, and all are eligible for
public jobs being abolished slavery forever.
Art 15. -. The law fixes the enjoyment, loss and suspension of political rights, as also the exercise
of civil rights.
Art 16. -. Individual freedom is guaranteed. No one can be prosecuted except in cases provided
by law, and in the manner it prescribes.
Art. 17. - Except for a crime in the act, no one can be imprisoned only pursuant to a reasoned
court order, to be served at the time of arrest, or at the latest within a period of twenty-four hours.
Art. 18. - The surprised in the act will be brought before a judge, and if it is at night, this
formality will be filled at six o'clock the next day, but may not be submitted to any other
authority.
19. Art. - No one can be arrested or sentenced, but by the competent judge or court, under
previous laws the crime and the way they prescribe.
Art 20. -. Not ever be sentenced to confiscation of property.
Art. 21 - No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest justified, after
the compensation according to experts.
Art 22. -. The address of every individual is a sacred asylum and inviolable. No home visits can
be verified only in cases prescribed by law, and according to the procedures it prescribes.
Art 23. -. All Dominicans can print and publish their ideas freely, without censorship, subject to
the laws. The rating of the offenses of the press, is solely for the jurors.
Art 24. -. The same laws governed throughout the Republic, and they do not establish more than
one jurisdiction for all Dominicans in common, civil and criminal trials.
Art. 25. - No power, corporation, or authority, can never grant a general pardon; but the
Legislature may in particular shock or other, amnesties or pardons particular with the exceptions
that the interest of the Company and private demand as crimes or crimes cases.
Art 26. -. All citizens are obliged to defend the country with arms, when called by law, and to
contribute in proportion to his means for spending.
27. Art. - No one would be forced to do what the law does not require, nor prevent him from
doing what the law does not deprive.

Art 28. -. The secrecy of letters is inviolable. The law determines who are the agents responsible,
and cases of responsibility in this field.
Art. 29. - it will be created, common to all citizens, free of charge in all branches of primary
public education, whose establishments will be gradually distributed in proportion combined
with the division of the territory; law fix the details of both these branches as teaching arts and
sciences.
Art. 30. - The Dominicans have the right to associate; this right can not be subject to any
preventive measures.
Art. 31. - The Dominicans have the right to assemble peacefully and unarmed in private homes,
conforming to the laws that can fix that right; but without being subject to prior authorization.
Art 32. -. Patriotic partnerships established to promote and assist all branches of public utility,
part of the executive branch will its establishment and name.
Art 33. -. To report to public officials for acts of his administration, no prior authorization is not
needed.
Art 34. -. No law may have retroactive effect.
Art. 35. - There may be no law or contrary to the letter or the spirit of the Constitution; in case of
doubt, the text of the Constitution should always prevail.
Art. 3o. - All Dominicans have the right to petition, but this can not be exercised but by one or
many individuals, and not on behalf of a collective body.
Art 37. -. Requests can be addressed, whether the President of the Republic, is one of the
legislative bodies, either to Congress.
Art. 38. - The Catholic religion, Apostolic, Roman, it is the state religion; his ministers, in the
exercise of ecclesiastical ministry, depend only on the canonically instituted prelates.