constituteproject.org PDF generated: 23 May 2016, 16:14 • the competences and level of financial means; the preservation of human security. Declare: TITLE I: OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES Article 1 • Official religion • Separation of church and state • Type of government envisioned The Malagasy People constitute a nation organized as a sovereign, unitary, republican and secular State. This State bears the name of « Republic of Madagascar » Democracy and the principle of the State of law constitute the foundation of the Republic. Its sovereignty is exercised within the limits of its territory. No one may infringe the territorial integrity of the Republic. The national territory is inalienable. The law determines the modalities and the conditions relative to the sale and to the perpetual lease of terrain to the profit of foreigners. • Official religion • Separation of church and state Article 2 The State affirms its neutrality concerning the different religions. The secularism of the Republic is based on the principle of the separation of the affairs of the State and of the religious institutions and of their representatives. The State and the religious institutions prohibit themselves from any infringement of their respective domains. • Constitutional court powers • Municipal government • Subsidiary unit government No Head of Institution nor any member of the Government may be part of the directing authority of a religious Institution, under penalty of being relieved by the High Constitutional Court or being removed, of office, from their mandate or their function. Article 3 The Republic of Madagascar is a State based on a system of Decentralized Territorial Collectivities composed of Communes, of Regions, and of Provinces of which the competences and the principles of administrative and financial autonomy are guaranteed by the Constitution and defined by the Law. Article 4 • National motto The Republic of Madagascar has as its motto: « Fitiavana – Tanindrazana – Fandrosoana ». • National flag Its national emblem is the tricolor flag of white, red, and green, composed of three rectangular bands of equal dimensions, the first vertical of white color on the side of the pole, the other two horizontal, the superior red and the inferior green. • Official or national languages The national language is Malagasy. Madagascar 2010 Page 4