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The word "constitution" comes from the Latin constitutio, which means structure, establishment, device.
As a definition of a normative legal act, the word "constitution" came into use during the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, when it was called a law establishing a system of separation of powers.
On Belarusian lands, the first Constitution began to operate at the end of the 18th century. On May 3, 1791, the Constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was adopted, which included our lands. It was the first in Europe and the second in the world, after the USA, adopted Constitution! That Basic Law was valid for only one year and was canceled in 1792.
The current Basic Law was preceded by the Soviet-era Constitutions of 1919, 1927, 1937, and 1978.
On March 15, 1994, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus was adopted. Currently, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus contains 9 sections, 9 chapters and 156 articles.
