| ROMANIAN CONSTITUTIONALISM
- CHRONOLOGY |
| |
| 1829 |
Treaty of Adrianopole - gave
identical statutes for Moldavia and Wallachia their first real
constitutions |
| 1830 |
The princes were to be elected for
life by the assemblies and advised by administrative councils,
thus foreshadowing a political regime similar to the constitutional
monarchies of other European states. The new assemblies amounted
to a kind of parliament. The basis for a modern juridical system
was also established and the courts of appeal were theoretically
independent of the princes and assemblies. |
| 1862, 5 February |
The first Parliament of Romania opens
in Bucharest. Alexandru Ioan Cuza proclaims the definitive Union
of the Principalties. Bucharest becomes the capital of the country. |
| 1866, 23 February |
Abdication of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. |
| 1866, 14-20 April |
Plebiscite leading to the election
of Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen as prince of Romania. |
| 1866, 22 May |
Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
is proclaimed ruling prince of Romania under the name of Carol
I. |
| 1866, 13 July |
Proclamation of a new constitution
(that will remain in effect until 1923). Among other things
it specifies that Romania is the official name of the country,
that the national flag will be the tri-color (blue, yellow,
and red), that the prince is the chief executive and head of
the army, and that he must approve all laws adopted by parliament. |
| 1877, 11 May |
The Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian
parliament votes to declare war on the Ottoman Empire. A day
later the Senate adopts a similar motion. |
| 1923, 29 March |
The publication of the new constitution
that proclaims Romania a unitary and indivisible national state.
It was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies on 26 March and by
the Senate on 27 March. It was promulgated by decree on 28 March. |
| 1937, 20 December |
The last free elections held in Romania
until the collapse of the communist regime at the end of 1989
lead to the downfall of the Tătărăscu government as it failed
to obtain the 40% necessary to ensure a parliamentary majority.
The strength of the Legionary Movement, which according to official
returns received 15.5% I, is the most remarkable result of the
elections. |
| 1938, 27 February |
The proclamation of a new constitution
that institutionalizes the Royal Dictatorship of King Carol
II. |
| 1948, 13 April |
A new constitution is adopted, completing
the installation of the Soviet regime in Romania. |
| 1948, 11 June |
The principal industrial, mining,
banking, insurance and transport enterprises are nationalized. |
| 1948, 30 August |
The General Direction of Popular
Security (the Securitate, within the Ministry of the Interior)
is established to eliminate potential political opposition. |
| 1949, 3-5 March |
The Central Committee of the Romanian
Workers' Party established a program for the collectivization
of agriculture. A process that would be completed in the spring
of 1962. |
| 1952, 8-13 April |
A new constitution is adopted further
enhancing the control of the Romanian Workers' Party over society. |
| 1958, June - July |
Soviet forces are withdrawn from
the Romanian territory. |
| 1965, 19 March |
The death of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej.
He is succeeded by Nicolae Ceauşescu as first secretary of the
Romanian Workers' Party. |
| 1965, 19-24 July |
The 9th Congress of the Communist
Party changes the official name of the party in Romanian Communist
party. Nicolae Ceauşescu is elected secretary general of the
party. |
| 1965, 21 August |
A new constitution is adopted, changing
the official name of the country to the Socialist Republic of
Romania. |
| 1974, 28 March |
The Grand National Assembly elects
Nicolae Ceauşescu as the first president of Romania. He also
holds the posts of secretary general of the Romanian Communist
Party and president of the Council of State. |
| 1984, 25 June |
The inauguration of construction
of the House of the People and the Boulevard of the Victory
of Socialism, in the civic center of Bucharest. One of the oldest
centers of the city is razed to the ground, destroying numerous
churches and other historical monuments. The House of the People
would become one of the world's largest buildings, being three
times the size of the Palace of Versailles. Today the House
of the People is the center of the Deputies Chamber. |
| 1987, 15 November |
On the occasion of elections for
the Grand National Assembly, a popular revolt takes place in
Brasov, preceded by a workers' meeting to protest the lowering
of salaries and the proposed loss of 15,000 jobs. The revolt
was quelled by Securitate forces and the army. |
| 1989, 16-22 December |
Popular manifestations against the
Ceauşescu regime begin in Timisoara, instigated by news that
the Securitate intended to arrest a Hungarian preacher, Lászlo
Tökés. News of the revolt spreads throughout the
country, aided by the transmissions of radio Free Europe and
the Voice of America. The rebellion is fueled by exaggerated
reports of mass killings by the authorities. The uprisings spread
to Bucharest, where, on 21 December, Nicolae Ceauşescu calls
a mass meeting to demonstrate support for his regime and to
denounce the anti-government demonstration. The meeting itself
sparks further revolt as Ceauşescu is unable to finish his address
and is forced to flee the Central Committee headquarters. He
and his wife are later arrested, while a provisional council,
headed by Ion Iliescu, a former communist official and Petre
Roman take control of the country. The Romanian television is
taken over by the revolution and becomes its focal point. |
| 1989, 25 December |
After a summary trial that condemns
them to death for genocide and destroying the national economy,
Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu are executed. |
| 1990, 3 January |
A decree law signed by Ion Iliescu,
president of the national Salvation Front, reestablishes political
parties in Romania. |
| 1990, 20 May |
The first free elections in Romania
after the December 1989 revolutionare held. On 26 May the Central
election Bureau announced the official results: Ion Iliescu
was elected president of Romania, receiving 85% of the votes
cast, while the National salvation Front received 66% of the
votes in the parliamentary elections. |
| 1990, 9 June |
First session of the new parliament
of Romania following the elections of 20 May. |
| 1991, December |
A new constitution is adopted, making
Romania a parliamentary democracy, based on West European models. |
| 1992, 25-26 April |
For the first time since he left
the country in January 1948, former King Michael I returns to
visit Romania. |
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