Constitution of San Marino (1600)

The statutes of 1600, often cited as the worlds oldest still governing republic.

Overview

San Marinos constitutional order is customarily traced to the Statutes of 1600, six books of law, which with the 1909 declaration of citizen rights and customary institutions form its constitution. The republic itself claims founding in 301 AD, and its dual captain regent system of six month rotating heads of state predates the statutes. The Arengo assembly of citizens and the Grand and General Council structure centuries old self governance. While heavily supplemented, the 1600 statutes are cited as the oldest surviving constitutional corpus of any sovereign state, a small republics answer to longevity.