CHAPTER 1 : THE REPUBLIC

 Art. 1 – Algeria is a people’s democratic republic, one and indivisible.
             The Algerian State is socialist.

Art. 2 – Islam is the religion of the State.

Art. 3 – Arabic is the national and official language.The State shall strive for the generalization of the             use of the national language at the official level.

Art. 4 – The capital city of the Republic is Algiers.

The law shall define the national anthem, the characteristics of the seal of the State, and the national flag.

Art. 5 – National sovereignty belongs to the people who shall exercise it by referendum or through             their elected representatives.

Art. 6 – The national Charter is the fundamental source of the policy of the nation and the laws of the             State.

It is the source of ideological and political reference for the institutions of the Party and the State at all levels.

The national Charter is also a fundamental reference instrument for any interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution.

Art. 7 – The People’s Assembly is the basic institution of the State. It constitutes the framework             within which the will of the people shall be expressed and democracy realized.

It is the fundamental basis of decentralization and the involvement of the masses in the management of public affairs at all levels.

Art. 8 – By virtue of their composition, the People’s assemblies shall be representative of the social              forces of the Revolution.

The majority of the members of elected People’s assemblies shall be made up of workers and peasants.

Any person who makes a living out of the product of his work, whether it be intellectual or manual, and does not employ for his benefit other workers in his professional activity, shall be considered as a worker.

Art. 9 – The representatives of the people shall meet the criteria of competence, integrity, and             commitment.

The representativeness of the people is incompatible with wealth or ownership of business.