Andalusian Constitution of 1838 (Alhambra)

The Andalusian Constitution of 1838, also known as the First Republican Constitution, was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 10, 1838 following six months of deliberations. It entered into force on March 1, replacing the previous 1815 Constitution and establishing the First Republic.

Adopted by a one-party Constituent Assembly, the text of the constitution was nevertheless subject of much debate as the different factions of the National Party sought to impose their vision of a republican Andalusia. The ultimate victory of the liberal faction meant that the newly established First Republic would be established on the ideals of the French and American revolutions, which included an enlarged suffrage, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly. In recognition of the specificity of Andalusia's ethnic and religious makeup, the Constitution also provided for freedom of worship for all its population, thus officially allowing the re-establishment of a Jewish commmunity in Andalusia for the first time since their expulsion in 1492. In addition, this Constitution was also the first one that recognized Arabic as an official language, along with Spanish.

Politically, the First Republic was modeled on the British system of government. As such the new office of the presidency was purely symbolic and executive power was vested into a Cabinet, headed by a prime minister. The legislative branch was held by the unicameral Majlis, which would be elected for a five-year term. Although the Constitution did not reform Andalusia's byzantine legal system, it was later amended to include the judicial reforms of the 1840s and 1850s. The process of amending the Constitution was modeled after the American one, with a requirement of a two-thirds majority in the Majlis.

(fate of the constitution)