Drafted in a short time and closely modeled on the 1831 Constitution of Belgium, then considered Europe's most liberal, it was substantially modified by Prince (later King) Carol and adopted by the Constituent Assembly.
Like its Belgian counterpart, it was bourgeois-liberal in character, declaring that the government was organised on the basis of separation of powers and on the principle of national sovereignty.
He had the right to grant political amnesty, to pardon criminals or reduce their sentences, to confer military ranks and decorations, and coin money.
The political regime was liberal but not democratic; elections were held with a limited franchise; voters, all men, were divided into four colleges based on their wealth and social origins.
In 1917, the Constitution underwent two major modifications in order to fulfill promised made to the soldiers then fighting World War I: the college-based electoral system was abolished, and the right to property weakened so that land reform could be carried out.
[3] As of 1909, the Chamber of Deputies was divided into three colleges, based on incomes and wealth: The Senate gave even more power to the large property owners, while 98% of the voters were not represented at all:[4] Under the constitution, the Prince/King appointed the prime minister, who then organized elections.