How did Egypt’s 2014 constitution differ from the 2012 constitution?

The 2014 constitution of Egypt replaced the 2012 document, which had been drafted by an Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly and suspended following the removal of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.12

The primary differences between the two documents include:

• Removal of Religious Language: The 2014 constitution removed much of the conservative religious language that had been featured in the 2012 version.12
• Institutional Autonomy: The 2014 text bolstered language that enshrined the military and the police as autonomous institutions, effectively shielding them from civilian oversight.2
• Legislative Structure: The 2014 constitution established a unicameral legislature, eliminating the upper chamber that had existed previously. (Note: This upper chamber was later reestablished following constitutional amendments in 2019).31

The 2014 constitution was drafted by a 50-member panel appointed by the interim administration to represent a broader cross-section of Egyptian society, excluding the Muslim Brotherhood, and was approved by voters in a January 2014 referendum.12