Constitutional Law of Armenia
Core architecture
Armenia is a constitutional republic whose 2015 amendments (in force 2018) created a parliamentary system. Know the hierarchy: Constitution, then constitutional laws, then ordinary laws, then subordinate acts. The Constitutional Court has defined competence to review conformity of laws, ratified treaties, and subordinate acts with the Constitution; it does not hear ordinary appeals.
Institutions a candidate must map
- National Assembly: 101 seats, proportional system with a 5% threshold; special rules for stable majority and constructive vote of no confidence.
- President: largely ceremonial, elected by the National Assembly.
- Prime Minister and Government: executive power rests with the Government; the PM is nominated by the parliamentary majority.
- Human Rights Defender: independent constitutional body.
- Judicial power: Constitutional Court, Court of Cassation, appellate and first-instance courts; the Supreme Judicial Council governs judicial careers.
Fundamental rights
Chapter 2 guarantees equality, right to life, liberty, fair trial, privacy, property, freedom of expression and assembly. Most rights may be restricted only by law, for a legitimate aim, and proportionately.
Traps
Questions often test (1) which body resolves constitutional disputes versus administrative disputes; (2) whether an international treaty prevails over an inconsistent domestic law (a ratified treaty prevails); (3) the difference between constitutional review and cassation review; (4) the term of the Human Rights Defender and immunity rules.
Rule of thumb
If a question asks who can annul a norm for unconstitutionality, the answer is the Constitutional Court; if it asks who can overturn a judgment for misapplication of law, the answer is the Court of Cassation.