Cádiz Constitution of 1812

a Spanish constitution, adopted by the constituent Cortes in Cádiz on Mar. 18, 1812, and made public on Mar. 19, 1812, during the Spanish Revolution of 1808-14.

The constitution declared that “sovereignty resides in the nation, which retains the exclusive right to establish its own fundamental laws” (art. 3). Spain was proclaimed a hereditary monarchy (art. 14), with legislative power vested in the Cortes and the monarch (art. 15) and executive power represented by the monarch (art. 16). The constitution proclaimed individual freedom and the inviolability of domicile (arts. 286 and 307) but declared Catholicism the official religion of Spain and prohibited the practice of any other religion (art. 12). The constitution proclaimed the equality of Spaniards of the mother country and those of the Spanish colonies (art. 18) and established a national militia in the provinces (art. 362). On his return to Spain, King Ferdinand VII revoked the constitution on May 4, 1814. Restored at the outbreak of the Spanish Revolution of 1820-1823 (it was proclaimed by Riego y Núñez on Jan. 1, 1820, and Ferdinand VII swore to uphold it on Mar. 9, 1820), it was again abolished on Oct. 1, 1823, by Ferdinand VII. On Aug. 12, 1836, the constitution went into effect for a third time in response to the demands of the masses and remained in force until the adoption of a new constitution on June 18, 1837.