Iraq's official language

As I was perusing The Best American Nonrequired 2006 today, I came across the Iraqi Constitution, approved by a referendum in October of 2005. Pretty interesting. Some of it sounds exactly like the US Constitution, but the ways that it is different are fascinating. The Preamble opens,

In the name of God, the most merciful, the most compassionate

We have honored the sons of Adam.

Another point of note is

Work is a right for all Iraqis so as to guarantee them a decent living.

I am also particularly intrigued by the way that the document deals with language. It's in Article 4 and says,

First: The Arabic language and Kurdish language are the two official languages of Iraq. The right of Iraq is to educate their children in their mother tongue, such as Turkmen, Syriac and Armenian, in government educational institutions in accordance with educational guidelines, or in any other language in private educational institutions, is guaranteed.

Second: The scope of the term official language and the means of applying the provisions of this article shall be defined by law which shall include:

A. Publication of the official gazette, in the two languages;

B. Speech, conversation and expression in official settings, such as the Council of Representatives, the Council of Ministers, courts, and official conferences, in either of the two languages;

C. Recognition and publication of the official documents and correspondences in the two languages;

D. Opening schools that teach the two languages, in accordance with the educational guidelines;

E. Use of both languages in any settings enjoined by the principle of equality such as bank notes, passports and stamps.

(Third: The federal institutions and agencies in the Kurdistan region shall use the Arabic and Kurdish languages.)

Fourth: The Turkmen language and Syriac language are two other official languages in the administrative units in which they represent density of population.

Fifth: Each region or governorate may adopt any other local language as an additional official language if the majority of its population so decide in a general referendum.

This is different from the US; we don't have an official language, technically. Some people want to make English our official language, and it gets talked about a lot especially within the context of immigration reform. It's a lot easier to say, "I just think that if you're going to come to this country, you should speak our language," than it is to say, "I don't like Mexicans." But this thing seems to be where it's at. Two official languages, plus a just-in-case clause for any extra language that the locals want to add on, niiceee.