The Origins Of Constitution Day In History Today, August 18, 1945

PPKI Session (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Every August 18, Indonesia commemorates Constitution Day. Constitution Day was first commemorated on August 18, 2008. The election of August 18 as Constitution Day refers to the day the 1945 Constitution (UUD 1945) was passed, namely on August 18, 1945.

Indonesia's Constitution Day is a proposal from the People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia. To quote Detik, on September 10, 2008, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) issued Presidential Decree No. 18 of 2008 concerning Indonesian Constitution Day. This stipulation was signed by the Institute for Constitutional Studies, MPR, DPD, and various components of society. Constitution Day is not a national holiday even though it is celebrated after Independence Day.

Various drafts of the contents of the 1945 Constitution had actually been carried out long before Independence Day. The Investigating Agency for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI or Dokuritsu Zyunbi Tyoosakai) drafted the contents of the 1945 Constitution from May 29, 1945 to June 16, 1945. Soekarno served as Chairman of BPUPKI and Deputy Chair was held by Drs. Moh, Hatta.

BPUPKI consists of 19 members, 11 of whom are representatives from Java, 3 people from Sumatra, and 1 representative each from Kalimantan, Maluku, and Lesser Sundas.

Illustration of the Red and White Flag (Source: Wikimedia Coomns)

BPUPKI was then dissolved and replaced with PPKI. On August 7, 1945 Japan announced the formation of PPKI or Dokuritsu Zyunbi Iinkai. The three founding figures of the state, namely Ir. Soekarno, Mohammad Hatta and Dr. KRT Radjiman Wedyodiningrat went to meet the Great General Terauchi, Saiko Sikikan in Saigon. In the meeting, Ir. Soekarno was appointed as Chairman of PPKI and Mohammad Hatta as his deputy.

The 1945 Constitution is the basis of various regulations that apply in Indonesia. The 1945 Constitution was inaugurated through a session conducted by the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI). The PPKI session took place at the Tyuuoo Sang-in Building or now known as the Pancasila Building.

That day, there was also a change in the contents of the 1945 Constitution because PPKI members from Eastern Indonesia objected to several articles which tended to be Islam-centric. Mohammad Hatta then persuaded the then Muhammadiyah leader Ki Bagoes Hadikoesoemo to accept the changes. The Islamic leaders who were present also agreed, it was all for the sake of Indonesian unity.

Presidential appointment

In addition to ratifying the 1945 Constitution, the PPKI session also chose Ir. Soekarno as president and Drs. Mohammad Hatta as vice president. After the president and vice president were elected, a Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP) was formed to assist the president.

Illustration (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Citing the Journal of Amendments to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia Produced a Checks and Balance System for State Institutions by Taufiqurrohman Syah, the 1945 Constitution also underwent several changes, both in terms of terms, material, and period of validity. In 1949, the 1945 Constitution was replaced with the RIS Constitution and one year later it was replaced by the 1950 Provisional Constitution. A few years later the 1945 Constitution was replaced by the 1945 Constitution through a presidential decree known as the Presidential Decree 5 July 1959.

In addition, there have been four amendments to the 1945 Constitution. The first amendment to the 1945 Constitution was enacted on October 19, 1999, by amending 9 articles. The Second Amendment to the 1945 Constitution which was stipulated on August 18, 2000 has amended 25 articles. The Third Amendment to the 1945 Constitution on November 9, 1999 amended 23 articles, and finally the fourth amendment to the 1945 Constitution which was stipulated on August 10, 2002, which amended 13 articles, as well as 3 articles of Transitional Rules and 2 articles of Additional Rules.

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