Rockin' Since 1950: The North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) State Constitution's Big 7-5
Marking 75 years since its adoption: North Rhine-Westphalia's state constitution, focusing on data protection within the European context. - Data Protection Moves Across Europe - NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia)
You might think grandpas need a rocking chair to chill, but not the NRW Constitution! At 75 years young, this Constitution's still kickin' - shaping the lives of people living in the most populated federal state. From schoolin' to votin', enviro protectin' to data securely packin', this Constitution's got 'em all covered.
But this isn't your average, timeworn document. The Constitution's been revised, baby! Over the past few decades, it's seen some major modifications to keep up with societal shifts.
To celebrate the Constitution's 75th anniversary, the Foundation House of North Rhine-Westphalia's History is throwin' a show from July 3 to 11 in the state parliament. The exhibition's all about the Constitution's creation story, up to its adoption in 1950, and important milestones that shook up NRW.
In 1968, they rocked the school system, introducin' the four-year primary school and the secondary main school - and abolishin' denominational school separation. In '69, they lowered the voting age to 18 as a response to the student movement, and in '78, they made data protection a fundamental right, turnin' NRW into the first state with data protection in its Constitution. In '85, enviro protection was established as a state goal, reflectin' years of ongoing discussions. In '20, they anchored Europe in the first sentence, reflecting the state's commitment to EU unity.
"The Constitution provides a stable foundation for our coexistence," says Hans Walter Hütter, President of the House of History Foundation. "But our social changes also shape the Constitution."
Changin' the Constitution is no easy feat. It requires a two-thirds majority of the state parliament, and it's undergone several revisions. What makes the NRW Constitution unique is that the Minister President's gotta be a member of the state parliament, unlike federal ministers.
There were long debates about the NRW Constitution. With the adoption of the Basic Law in May 1949, work on the NRW Constitution entered a decisive phase. After heated discussions, the state parliament adopted the Constitution on June 6, 1950, and citizens approved it in a referendum on June 18, 1950. The NRW Constitution came into force on July 11, 1950 - but the state of North Rhine-Westphalia had already existed for roughly four years.
North Rhine-Westphalia came to life in '46 by the British military government after World War II. The state was formed from the northern part of the Prussian Rhine Province and Westphalia in a quickie called a "marriage operation" in Düsseldorf on August 23, 1946. Lipperland joined in '47.
Wanna learn more about the Constitution? Check out the exhibition!
- NRW
- Constitution
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- State Constitution
- Data Protection
- Europe
- House of History
- Westphalia
- Environment
- In the realm of education-and-self-development and lifelong-learning, the Constitution of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) played a significant role in introducing vocational training programs, expanding the school system, and abolishing denominational school separation in the 1960s.
- The policy-and-legislation surrounding the Constitution of NRW witnessed momentous changes in the late 20th century, with data protection being established as a fundamental right in 1978, reflecting the state's commitment to privacy.
- The Politics and General-News of the NRW State Constitution have undergone revisions to keep up with societal shifts, with key developments including the recognition of Europe as a priority in 2020 and the setting of environmental protection as a state goal in 1985.
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