# First Constitution of Dahomey (1959)

URL: https://allhistories.com/benin/timeline/1959-first-constitution-of-dahomey
Location: Porto-Novo, Ouémé, Benin
Themes: main-event

After the proclamation of the republic in December 1958, the Dahomeyan assembly acted as a constituent body. Its task was to give the new state a constitution consistent with membership of the French Community, under which France retained powers over defence, foreign policy, currency and some economic matters. The constitution was adopted on 14 February 1959; some sources, including the National Assembly of Benin, give the end of February as the date of its entry into force. It created a parliamentary regime: a single-chamber Legislative Assembly elected by universal suffrage, and a government led by a prime minister who was responsible to the assembly. The French high commissioner represented the Community. The constitution also provided for the election of a new Legislative Assembly, and the vote was set for 2 April 1959, only seven weeks later. This first constitution was short-lived. Political instability, rivalries between the three regional parties and the transition to full independence led to its replacement by a presidential constitution on 26 November 1960. It nonetheless established the basic institutions – an elected assembly and a government of Dahomeyans – that would run the country through the final year of French tutelage. At this point in the timeline (14 February 1959), the High Commissioner in the Republic of Dahomey was René Tirant (4 December 1958 – 1 August 1960). Government: the President of the Government Council / Prime Minister of Dahomey was Sourou-Migan Apithy (26 July 1958 – 22 May 1959).

## Why it matters
The 1959 constitution gave the autonomous Republic of Dahomey its first parliamentary institutions.

Ruler at the Time: [René Tirant](https://allhistories.com/benin/rulers/rene-tirant-1958)

President of the Government Council / Prime Minister of Dahomey: Sourou-Migan Apithy (Republican Party of Dahomey (PRD); from 1959 Dahomeyan Progressive Party (PPD))

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Republic of Dahomey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Dahomey)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Benin constitution](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Benin+constitution)
- [Assemblée nationale du Bénin — Histoire et patrimoine](https://assemblee-nationale.bj/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Histoire-et-patrimoine.pdf)
- [Afrik.com — 61 ans d'indépendance du Bénin](https://www.afrik.com/61-ans-d-independance-du-benin-retour-sur-une-decolonisation-en-plusieurs-etapes)