The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 4 November, 1972 and became effective on 16 December, 1972 one year after Bangladesh's victory in the War of Liberation. the Constitution has been amended 17 times. The procedure for amendments is demarcated in Article 142, a bill must be presented in the Jatiya Sangsad with with the support of no less than two-thirds of all its members (233 MPs). Amending the Constitution of Bangladesh is the process of making changes to the nation's supreme law. Amendments First amendment Passed on 15 July 1973, the first amendment was made to the Article 47 of the constitution. The amendment inserted an additional clause, Article 47(3), that states that any law regarding prosecution or punishment of war crimes cannot be declared void or unlawful on grounds of unconstitutionality. A new Article 47A was also added, which specifies that certain fundamental rights will be inapplicable in those cases. Second amendment The second amendment of the constitution was passed on 22 September 1973. It suspended some of the fundamental rights of the citizens during a state of emergency. The act made following changes to the constitution: Amended articles 26, 63, 72 and 142. Substituted Article 33. Inserted a new Part IXA to the constitution. Third amendment Third Amendment was passed on 28 November 1974 that brought changes in Article 2 of the constitution. An agreement was made between Bangladesh and India in respect of exchange of certain enclaves and fixation of boundary lines between the countries. Fourth amendment The amendment was passed on 25 January 1975. Amended articles 11, 66, 67, 72, 74, 76, 80, 88, 95, 98, 109, 116, 117, 119, 122, 123, 141A, 147 and 148 of the constitution. Substituted Articles 44, 70, 102, 115 and 124 of the constitution. Amended part III of the constitution out of existence. Altered the Third and Fourth Schedule. Extended the term of the first Jatiya Sangsad. Inserted a new part, VIA in the constitution and. Inserted new articles 73A and 116A in the constitution. Significant changes included: The presidential form of government was introduced replacing the parliamentary system. A one-party system in place of a multi-party system was introduced; the powers of the Jatiya Sangsad were curtailed; the Judiciary lost much of its independence; the Supreme Court was deprived of its jurisdiction over the protection and enforcement of fundamental rights.