Constitution of Apatzingán

Constitutional Decree for the Liberty of Mexican America
Original front of the Apatzingán Constitution
Created	1814
Ratified	October 22, 1814
Location	General Archive of the Nation in the Lecumberri Palace
Author(s)	Congress of Anáhuac
Signatories	Congress of Anáhuac
Purpose	Constitution to control the independent territories

The Constitution of Apatzingan (formally: Constitutional Decree for the Liberty of Mexican America), was promulgated on October 22, 1814, by the Congress of Anahuac gathered in the city of Apatzingan because of the persecution of the troops of Felix Maria Calleja. The Constitution was valid for insurgent forces in the territories where it gained control during the Mexican War of Independence.

After the death of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, on June 28, 1813, Jose Maria Morelos from Acapulco made a call to create a Congress in September in the city of Chilpancingo (now in the state of Guerrero), whose purpose was to create an independent government. Proclaimed as Supreme National Congress, was installed on September 14, 1813; that same day Morelos announced to the Assembly a program called Sentimientos de la Nación, in which was declared the independence of the Mexican America and establish a government of popular representation with division of powers, forbade slavery and the division of population into castes. On 6 November, same year, the Congress signed the first official document of independence, known as the Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America.

Constitution of Apatzingan was composed of 2 titles and 242 articles, was based on the same principles that the Constitution of Cadiz but in a modified form, as opposed to the Spanish constitution, provided the establishment of the republican system of government. The most relevant articles were:

The Supreme Government, (Executive), was composed of three persons, they would have equal authority and responsibility; same as the government would exercise as an alternative every four months. Their most direct authority, in addition to the executive and administrative nature, were to ensure the protection of the rights of citizens: liberty, property, equality and security. The Supreme Government would be exercised by José María Cos, Jose Maria Liceaga and José María Morelos.