a:
governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic
Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities
was introduced in 1993

Senegal:
3 March 1963, revised 1991

Seychelles:
18 June 1993

Sierra Leone:
1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times

Singapore:
3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State
of Singapore Constitution)

Slovakia:
ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993;
changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president;
amended February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU
membership

Slovenia:
adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991

Solomon Islands:
7 July 1978

Somalia:
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979

note: the Transitional National Government formed in October 2000
has a mandate to create a new constitution and hold elections within
three years

South Africa:
10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified
by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then
President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3
February 1997; it is being implemented in phases

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:
adopted 3 October 1985

Spain:
6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978

Sri Lanka:
adopted 16 August 1978

Sudan:
12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985;
interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of
30 June 1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998 partially
suspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR

Suriname:
ratified 30 September 1987

Swaziland:
none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12
April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but
was not formally presented to the people; since then a few more
outlines for a constitution have been compiled under the
Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), but so far none have been
accepted

Sweden:
1 January 1975

Switzerland:
29 May 1874

Syria:
13 March 1973

Tajikistan:
6 November 1994

Tanzania:
25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984

Thailand:
new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October
1997

Togo:
multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the
Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Tokelau:
administered