Constitution of Ireland - Main Provisions

Main Provisions

The official text of the constitution consists of a Preamble and fifty Articles arranged under sixteen headings. Its overall length is approximately 16,000 words. The headings are:

1. The Nation (Arts. 1–3)
2. The State (Arts. 4–11)
3. The President (Arts. 12–14)
4. The National Parliament (Arts. 15–27)
5. The Government (Art. 28)
6. Local Government (Art. 28A)
7. International Relations (Art. 29)
8. The Attorney General (Art. 30)
9. The Council of State (Arts. 31–32)
10. The Comptroller and Auditor General (Art. 33)
11. The Courts (Arts. 34–37)
12. Trial of Offences (Arts. 38–39)
13. Fundamental Rights (Arts. 40–44)
14. Directive Principles of Social Policy (Art. 45)
15. Amendment of the Constitution (Art. 46)
16. The Referendum (Art. 47)
17. Repeal of Constitution of Saorstát Éireann and Continuance of Laws (Arts. 48–50)

The constitution also includes a number of "Transitory Provisions" (Arts. 51-63) which have, in accordance with their terms, been omitted from all official texts since 1941. These provisions are still in force but are now mostly spent.