Vidovdan Constitution

(Vidovdanski Ustav), bourgeois constitution of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (since 1929, Yugoslavia). Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on June 28, 1921, on St. Vitus’ Day (Vidovdan); hence the name.

The Vidovdan Constitution proclaimed the kingdom a constitutional parliamentary and hereditary monarchy (Article 1), headed by a Serbian king of the Karadjordjevic dynasty. It instituted a unicameral parliament (the Narodna Skupstina). It proclaimed the equality of all before the law and freedom of speech, assembly, association, and the press. At the same time it ensured the rule of the great-power Serbian bourgeoisie in the country. It invested the king with executive and legislative powers, which he shared with the Narodna Skupstina. According to Article 127, the king could at any time suspend the political rights and freedoms of the citizens. The Vidovdan Constitution was in force until the establishment of a monarchist dictatorship in the country on Jan. 6, 1929.