The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be amended by constitutional law adopted by a majority, not less than two thirds of the total number accordingly of deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, or by referendum of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The provisions of Article 1 of this Constitution and the second part of this article shall not be subject to revision.

The Constitutional law on amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan may provide for the specifics of the application of its norms, as well as the norms of the Constitution.

Judges shall be independent and subject solely to the Constitution and the law. Any interference in the work of judges in administering law shall be inadmissible and punishable by law. Judges shall not be accountable in specific cases.

Judges shall be inviolable.

The State shall ensure the safety of the judge and members of his family.

Suspension of a judge from hearing a specific case, termination or suspension of his or her powers, transfer to another position shall be allowed only in accordance with the procedure and on the grounds stipulated by law. The reorganization or liquidation of a court may not serve as grounds for relieving a judge from office.

Judges may not be senators, deputies of the representative bodies of state authority.

Judges may not be members of political parties, participate in political movements, as well as be engaged in any other paid activity except for research and pedagogical.

The Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall act as a body of court community and render support in observation of the constitutional principle of independence of the judiciary in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Deputy Chairman shall be elected on the proposal of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for a five-year term. The same person may not be elected Chairman, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan for more than two terms in a row.

The procedure for organization and work of the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be defined by law.

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be the supreme judicial body of civil, criminal, economic and administration proceedings.

The acts adopted by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be final and binding on the entire territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to supervise the administration of justice of the inferior courts.

The Chairperson of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan and his/her deputies shall be elected on the proposal of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for a five-year term. The same person may not be elected as Chairperson, deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan more than two terms in a row.

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall hear cases on compliance with the Constitution of acts of the legislative and executive authority.

The Constitutional Court shall be elected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan upon the submission of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from among specialists in the sphere of politics and law, recommended by the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including the representative of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

Judges of the Constitutional Court shall be elected for ten-year terms without the right to re-election.

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall elect from among its members the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan and his deputy.

To organize and hold the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the representative bodies of state power of regions, districts, cities, as well as a referendum of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be formed by the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the main principles of activity of which shall be independence, legality, collective nature, publicity and fairness.

The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall carry out its activities on a permanent basis and shall comply with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Members of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be elected by the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the recommendation of the Jokarghy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional and Tashkent city Kenghashes of people’s deputies.

Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be elected from among its members upon the nomination of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the meeting of the commission. The same person may not be elected as the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for more than two consecutive terms.

Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to elect and be elected to the representative bodies of state authority. Every elector shall have one vote. The right to vote, equality and freedom of expression of will shall be guaranteed by law.

The elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, to the representative bodies of state power of regions, districts, cities are held, respectively, in the year of the expiration of their constitutional term of office — on the first Sunday of the third decade of October. Elections are held on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan who have reached the age of eighteen have the right to vote.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to call early elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be elected by secret ballot at relevant joint sittings of deputies of Jokarghy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the representative bodies of state authority in regions, districts, cities and towns from among these deputies within a month after their election.

Citizens recognized by a court as legally incompetent, as well as persons held in places of deprivation of liberty by a court judgment, may not be elected.

Citizens recognized by the court as legally incompetent, as well as persons held in places of deprivation of liberty by a court verdict for committed grave and especially grave crimes may be deprived of the right to participate in elections only in accordance with the law and on the basis of a court decision. In any other cases, direct or indirect restriction of citizens’ voting rights is not allowed.

A citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan may not simultaneously be a deputy in more than two representative bodies of state authority.

The procedure for conducting elections shall be determined by law.

Candidacy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan for consideration and approval by the Legislative Chamber shall be submitted by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan following consultations with all factions of political parties within a month after the election of officials and the formation of the bodies of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan or within a month after the release from office or resignation of the Prime Minister and the current composition of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall consider the candidacy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan submitted by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan within ten days from the date of the submission.

The nominee of the Prime Minister, while considered at the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shall present a program of the Cabinet of Ministers for short and long-term perspectives.

The nominee of the Prime Minister is to be considered as approved if it receives more than a half of total number of votes of the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In case of a triple rejection of the submitted candidates to the post of the Prime Minister, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall appoint the Prime Minister and have the right to dissolve the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Members of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan after the approval of their candidatures by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to dismiss the Prime Minister, the current composition or a member of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to hear a report from a member of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding his activities. Based on the results of hearing the report of a member of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Legislative Chamber shall have the right to make a proposal for consideration to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan about his resignation.

The members of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be obliged to respond to parliamentary inquiries and requests of a deputy of the Legislative Chamber, a member of the Senate in the manner prescribed by law.

The procedure for organizing activities and the competence of the Cabinet of Ministers shall be determined by law.

The President, upon completion of his term of office, shall be a lifetime member of the Senate.

If it is impossible for the incumbent President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to fulfill his duties, his duties and powers are temporarily assigned to the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, holding for three months in full accordance with the law, the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Legislative Chamber, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan may be dissolved, by the decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted as agreed with the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in case of insuperable disagreements within the Legislative Chamber or the Senate putting under threat their normal functioning or numerous adoption by them decisions contradicting the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as insuperable disagreements between the Legislative Chamber and the Senate putting under threat the normal functioning of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In case of dissolution of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the new elections shall be held within three months.

The Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan may not be dissolved during the state of emergency.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall:

1) guarantee observance of rights and freedoms of citizens, the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Republic of Uzbekistan, implementation of decisions regarding its national-state structure;

2) represent the Republic of Uzbekistan within the country and in international relations;

3) conduct negotiations and sign treaties and agreements of the Republic of Uzbekistan, ensure the observance of the negotiated by the Republic treaties, agreements and the assumed by it obligations;

4) receive letters of credence and recall from diplomatic and other representatives accredited to him;

5) present to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan nominees for appointment heads of diplomatic and other representative offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan to foreign states and with international organizations;

6) have the right to address the people and the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on major matters of realizing home and foreign policies of the country;

7) form and abolish ministries and other republican bodies of executive authority with subsequent submission of decrees on these matters for approval by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

8) represent to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan a nominee for the election on the post of the Chairperson of the Senate;

9) appoint, with the approval of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the members of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan and dismisses them from their posts;

10) appoint and dismiss heads of committees, agencies and other republican state bodies in accordance with the legislation;

11) appoint and dismiss the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Chairperson of the Chamber of Accounts of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the approval of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

12) appoint, after consultation with the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Chairperson of the State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and dismisses him from his post;

13) present candidates to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as for the posts of Chairperson of the Board of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, head of the republican body to counteract corruption and head of the republican anti-monopoly body;

14) appoint and dismiss, upon the submission of the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairpersons and deputy Chairpersons of courts in regions and the city of Tashkent, the Chairperson of the Military Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan; approve members of the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

15) appoint and relieve, upon the submission of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, khokims of districts and cities of their posts in accordance with law. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to relieve, by his decision, khokims of districts and cities of their posts, should they violate the Constitution, laws or perform acts discrediting the honour and dignity of a khokim;

16) suspend, cancel acts of republican executive bodies and khokims; have the right to chair the meetings of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

17) sign and promulgate laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan; shall have the right to return a law, with his objections, to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the second discussion and vote;

18) announce condition of war in cas e of attack on the Republic of Uzbekistan or in case of necessity of the implementation of contractual obligations on mutual defense from aggression, general or partial mobilization and within seventy two hours submit the adopted decision for approval by the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

19) in exceptional cases (real outside threat, mass disturbances, major catastrophes, natural calamities, epidemics) in the interests of ensuring citizens’ security introduce the state of emergency on the entire territory or in the particular localities of the Republic of Uzbekistan and within seventy two hours submit the adopted decision for approval by the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Conditions and the procedure for introducing the state of emergency shall be set by law;

20) serve as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan, appoint and relieve the supreme command of the Armed Forces of the post and confer the highest military ranks;

21) award orders, medals and certificates of honour of the Republic of Uzbekistan, confer qualification and honorary titles of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

22) rule on matters of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan and granting political asylum;

23) put to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan submission on adoption of acts of amnesty and effectuate pardoning of persons condemned by courts of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

24) form and head the Security Council at the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, forms the Presidential Administration, as well as consultative, advisory and other bodies at the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in order to ensure the implementation of its competence;

25) exercise other powers stipulated by the present Constitution and laws.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall not have the right to transfer exercising of his powers to state bodies or officials.

Deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the established procedure, shall receive compensation of expenses connected with their deputy or senator activities.

Deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate, working in the Senate on a permanent basis for the period of their powers, may not be engaged in other paid activity except for research, creative and pedagogical activities.

A deputy of the Legislative Chamber and a member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right of immunity. They may not be brought to criminal responsibility, arrested or subject to measures of administrative penalty imposed in the judicial order, without the consent accordingly of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate.

Parliamentary inquiry may be conducted by joint decision of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis to investigate facts and cases, which threaten human rights, and freedoms and the interests of society and the State and which may have a negative impact on the foundations of security and the sustainable development of the country.

To conduct the parliamentary inquiry on a parity basis from among the deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan a special commission shall be established, which shall carry out its activities in accordance with the law.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the term of its powers shall elect from among deputies of the Legislative Chamber the committees for drafting laws, preliminary consideration and preparation of matters to be submitted to the Legislative Chamber, control over the implementation of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and decisions to be adopted by the Legislative Chamber.

The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the term of its powers shall elect from among senators the committees for preliminary consideration and preparation of matters to be submitted to the Senate, control over the implementation of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and decisions to be adopted by the Senate.

The Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in case of necessity for the implementation of concrete tasks, shall organize commissions from among deputies, senators.

The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall elect from among its composition the Chairperson of the Senate and his deputies. The Chairperson of the Senate shall be elected upon the nomination of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

One of the Deputies of the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be a representative from the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

The Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and his Deputies shall be elected by a majority of votes of the total number of senators by secret ballot for the term of powers of the Senate.

The same person may not serve as Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan more than two terms in a row.

The Chairperson and the Deputy of Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan may be recalled before the appointed time by decision of the Senate adopted by more than two thirds of votes of the total number of senators by secret ballot.

The Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall:

1) convoke sittings of the Senate, preside at them;

2) exercise the general direction over a preliminary review of matters to be submitted for consideration by the Senate;

3) coordinate the work of the committees and commissions of the Senate;

4) organize the control over the implementation of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and resolutions of the Senate;

5) direct the work on interparliamentary relations and the activity of the groups of the Senate connected with the work of international parliamentary organizations;

6) represent the Senate in interrelation with the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, other state bodies, foreign states, international and other organizations;

7) sign resolutions of the Senate;

8) exercise other powers provided for by this Constitution and legislative acts.

The Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall issue ordinances.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall elect from its composition the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber and the deputies of Speaker.

The Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and his deputies shall be elected by a majority of votes of the total number of deputies by secret ballot for the term of powers of the Legislative Chamber.

The same person may not serve more than two consecutive terms as Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

The Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Deputy of Speaker may be prematurely recalled by a decision of the Legislative Chamber, adopted by more than two thirds of votes of the total number of deputies of the Legislative Chamber by secret ballot.

The Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall:

1) convoke sittings of the Legislative Chamber, preside at them;

2) exercise the general direction over a preliminary review of matters to be submitted for consideration by the Legislative Chamber;

3) coordinate the work of the committees and commissions of the Legislative Chamber;

4) organize the control over the implementation of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and resolutions of the Legislative Chamber;

5) direct the work on antiparliamentary relations and the activity of the groups of the Legislative Chamber connected with the work of international parliamentary organizations;

6) represent the Legislative Chamber in interrelation with the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, other state bodies, foreign states, international and other organizations;

7) sign resolutions of the Legislative Chamber;

8) exercise other powers provided for by this Constitution and legislative acts.

The Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall issue ordinances.

The law shall come into effect when it is adopted by the Legislative Chamber, approved by the Senate, signed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and issued in the official publications in specified by law procedure.

The law, adopted by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, not later than ten days from the date of adoption, shall be addressed to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The law shall be considered by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan within sixty days and, if approved, shall be passed to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for signature and promulgation no later than ten days.

In the case that the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan does not make a decision on approval or rejection of the law within sixty days, it shall be sent to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for signature and promulgation by the Legislative Chamber.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, within sixty days, shall sign the law and promulgate it.

The law, rejected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shall be returned to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In case of the second consideration of the rejected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan law and approval the law by the Legislative Chamber, by a majority in two thirds of votes of the total number of deputies, it shall be considered to be adopted by the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and addressed by the Legislative Chamber to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for signing and promulgation.

On the law rejected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan the Legislative Chamber and the Senate, on a par with, may form from among deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate a conciliatory commission for overcoming the occured disagreements. At adoption by the chambers proposals of the conciliatory commission the law shall be subject to consideration in ordinary procedure.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to return the law with his objections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In case of approval of the law in the earlier adopted edition by a majority not less than two thirds of votes of the total number accordingly of deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the law shall be subject to signing by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan within fourteen days and promulgation.

Publication of laws and other normative-legal acts shall be an obligatory condition for their application.

The right of legislative initiative shall be entitled to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Karakalpakstan in the person of its higher representative body of state authority, the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The right of legislative initiative also belongs to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan on issues within their jurisdiction.

The right of legislative initiative shall be exercised through the introduction of a bill by subjects of the right of legislative initiative to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the right to vote, in the amount of at least one hundred thousand people, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman), the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right, in the manner of a legislative initiative, to submit to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis Republic of Uzbekistan legislative proposals.

The procedure for the introduction and consideration of bills, legislative proposals shall be determined by law.

The Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on matters relating to their conducting, shall adopt resolutions.

Resolutions of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be adopted by a majority of votes of the total number of deputies of the Legislative Chamber or members of the Senate except for cases stipulated by the present Constitution.