Costa Rican Constitution of 1844

The Political Constitution of the Free State of Costa Rica promulgated on April 9, 1844 was the second constitution of the country, if local constitutions are excluded when it was a member of the Central American Federation, and eight if these are included.[1] Francisco Morazán's regime was toppled by José María Alfaro Zamora. Zamora as interim ruler, on April 5, 1843, convened a Constitutional Assembly that was officially established on June 1 of that year and drafted the Constitution that would be in force until 1847 when, Alfaro again, summons a new Constituent.[2]

José María Alfaro Zamora

Part of a series on the
History of Costa Rica
History Pre-Columbian Histroy Spanish Conquest New Spain Independence Mexican Control Federal Republic of Central America Free State of Costa Rica League War First Costa Rican Republic (1848-1948) 1870 coup d'état 1917 coup d'état Dictatorship of the Tinoco Brothers The Liberal State 1948 Costa Rican Civil War Founding Junta of the Second Republic 1949 Constitution The Reform State
Constitutions Pact of Concord First Political Statute Second Political Statute Fundamental Law of the State of Costa Rica Decree of Basis and Guarantees Modern Constitutions Constitution of 1844 Constitution of 1847 Constitution of 1859 Constitution of 1869 Constitution of 1871 Constitution of 1917 Constitution of 1949 (Current)
Governments Mexico Federal Republic of Central America Free State of Costa Rica First Costa Rican Republic Dictatorship of the Tinoco Brothers First Costa Rican Republic Junta Second Costa Rican Republic
Armed Conflicts Ochomogo War League War Filibuster War World War I Anti-Tinoquista rebellion Coto War World War II Costa Rican Civil War Invasion attempt by Nicaragua Dominican Civil War

It was the first constitution to expressly establish ministries, these were; of Office, of Interior, Foreign and Interior Relations and of Treasury and War.[3] Although it does not specified its functions.[3] The Legislative Branch was bicameral and the Head of State will be replaced by the President of the Senate in case of death, illness or destitution.[3]

It also institutes the San Juan de Dios Hospital and its Charity Board that would eventually be transformed into the Social Protection Board. It also establishes education as a right of Costa Ricans and as a duty of the State to grant it by putting all the means at its disposal to provide it.

The dissatisfaction with the Constitution of 1844 by the military led to the coup of 1846 and this in turn to the drafting of the Constitution "corrected" of 1847.[4]