The Constitution of the Republic of the Falkland Islands

This document is the official Constitution of the Republic of the Falkland Islands, adopted and promulgated by the people of the Falkland Islands in exercise of their inherent right to self‑determination and sovereign statehood. The Constitution establishes the Republic of the Falkland Islands as a sovereign, independent, democratic and indivisible republic. It is grounded in the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933) and customary international law. The Constitution provides for: A permanent population (the people of the Falkland Islands, together with the de facto population at the Sovereign Seat); A defined territory (the Falkland Islands archipelago, including East Falkland, West Falkland, and all smaller islands and islets within the internal and territorial waters, territorial waters, and a defined portion of the Sovereign Seat at 5 Northfield Road, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire); An effective government (with a Head of State, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, Parliament, and independent judiciary); The capacity to enter into relations with other states; The Constitution includes a comprehensive bill of fundamental rights, provisions for democratic elections, and a transitional framework for the first elections to Parliament. It also asserts the Republic’s status as a lawful successor to all rights, obligations and property formerly held on behalf of the people of the Falkland Islands under any prior administration. This DOI record provides a permanent, timestamped, and citable version of the Constitution, ensuring its integrity and public availability for legal, diplomatic, and academic reference.