constituteproject.org PDF generated: 14 Apr 2014, 20:52 Article 16 The State and the society protect the family. Article 17 No one is supposed to ignore the law. Article 18 Every citizen has the duty of protecting and of safeguarding the independence of the country, its sovereignty and the integrity of its territory. Treason, espionage, joining [passage] the enemy as well as all the infractions committed with prejudice to the security of the State, are repressed [réprimés] with all the rigor of the law. Article 19 Every citizen must loyally fulfill his obligations towards the national collectivity and respect public property and private property. The citizens enjoy the same rights and the same duties vis-à-vis the Nation. They participate equally in the construction [edification] of the Fatherland and have right, under the same conditions, to sustainable development and to an environment balanced and respectful of health. Article 20 The citizens are equal concerning the taxes. Each must participate in the public charges as a function of their contributive capacity. No tax can be instituted except by virtue of a law. Article 21 Every alien who resides legally on the national territory enjoys, for his person and his assets, the protection of the law. Article 22 No one can be extradited except by virtue of the laws and conventions of extradition. Title II Of the Executive Power Article 23 The President of the Republic is the Head of the State. He is of Muslim religion. Article 24 The President of the Republic is the guardian of the Constitution. He incarnates the State. He assures, through his arbitration, the continuous and regular functioning of the public powers. He is the guarantor of the national independence and of the integrity of the territory. Mauritania 1991 (rev. 2012) Page 5