Ireland adopted a new constitution in 1937. This declared Ireland to be a sovereign, independent state, but did not explicitly declare Ireland to be a republic. However, it did change the name of the state from "Irish Free State" to "Ireland" (or in the Irish language). It also contained irredentist claims on Northern Ireland, stating that the "national territory the Irish state consists of the whole island of Ireland" (Article 2). This was measured in some way by Article 3, which stated that, "Pending the re-integration of the national territory ... the laws enacted by the parliament Ireland shall have the like area and extent of application as the laws of Saorstat Éireann" ( is the Irish language name of the Irish Free State).