diff --git a/src/meiattribute.cpp b/src/meiattribute.cpp
index 99df9993..a0dabba3 100644
--- a/src/meiattribute.cpp
+++ b/src/meiattribute.cpp
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ bool mei::MeiAttribute::operator==(const MeiAttribute &other) const {
             this->value == other.value);
 }
 
-string mei::MeiAttribute::getName() {
+string mei::MeiAttribute::getName() const {
     return this->name;
 }
 
-string mei::MeiAttribute::getValue() {
+string mei::MeiAttribute::getValue() const {
     return this->value;
 }
 
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ void mei::MeiAttribute::setValue(string attrvalue) {
     this->value = attrvalue;
 }
 
-MeiElement* mei::MeiAttribute::getElement() {
+MeiElement* mei::MeiAttribute::getElement() const {
     return this->element;
 }
 
 void mei::MeiAttribute::setElement(MeiElement *el) {
     this->element = el;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/meiattribute.h b/src/meiattribute.h
index 4dceb8a6..a55bd1c3 100644
--- a/src/meiattribute.h
+++ b/src/meiattribute.h
@@ -57,17 +57,17 @@ namespace mei {
              *  Each attribute is created with a name and value, the attribute cannot exist without a name
              *  \return string containing the attribute name.
              */
-            std::string getName();
+            std::string getName() const;
 
             /** \brief Get the value of the attribute.
              *  \return A string indicating the attribute value
              */
-            std::string getValue();
+            std::string getValue() const;
 
             /** \brief Set/change the value of an attribute*/
             void setValue(std::string attrvalue);
 
-            MeiElement* getElement();
+            MeiElement* getElement() const;
             void setElement(MeiElement* el);
 
         private:
diff --git a/src/meidocument.cpp b/src/meidocument.cpp
index 63c00ad9..f43ad729 100644
--- a/src/meidocument.cpp
+++ b/src/meidocument.cpp
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ vector<MeiElement*> mei::MeiDocument::getElementsByName(string name) {
     return ret;
 }
 
-int mei::MeiDocument::getPositionInDocument(MeiElement* element) {
+int mei::MeiDocument::getPositionInDocument(MeiElement* element) const {
     vector<MeiElement*> els = this->getFlattenedTree();
     vector<MeiElement*>::iterator pos = find(els.begin(), els.end(), element);
     if (pos != els.end()) {
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ int mei::MeiDocument::getPositionInDocument(MeiElement* element) {
     return -1;
 }
 
-const std::vector<MeiElement*> &mei::MeiDocument::getFlattenedTree() {
+const std::vector<MeiElement*> &mei::MeiDocument::getFlattenedTree() const {
     return flattenedDoc;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/meidocument.h b/src/meidocument.h
index 36aff087..deee834b 100644
--- a/src/meidocument.h
+++ b/src/meidocument.h
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiDocument {
         /** \brief Gets an element's position in the flattened
          *      tree representation.
          */
-        int getPositionInDocument(MeiElement* element);
+        int getPositionInDocument(MeiElement* element) const;
 
         /** 
          *  \brief Adds an ID and an element to the ID Map.
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiDocument {
         void rmIdMap(std::string id);
 
         /** \brief Returns the flattened document tree */
-        const std::vector<MeiElement*> &getFlattenedTree();
+        const std::vector<MeiElement*> &getFlattenedTree() const;
         
         /** \brief Returns the most immediate previous element elName, given a starting point
          */
diff --git a/src/meielement.cpp b/src/meielement.cpp
index a261ce9b..9828fb24 100644
--- a/src/meielement.cpp
+++ b/src/meielement.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ void mei::MeiElement::generateAndSetId() {
     this->setId(out);
 }
 
-const string mei::MeiElement::getId() {
+const string mei::MeiElement::getId() const {
     return this->id;
 }
 
@@ -110,11 +110,11 @@ bool mei::MeiElement::hasId() {
     return this->id != "";
 }
 
-const string mei::MeiElement::getName() {
+const string mei::MeiElement::getName() const {
     return this->name;
 }
 
-const string mei::MeiElement::getValue() {
+const string mei::MeiElement::getValue() const {
     return this->value;
 }
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ void mei::MeiElement::setValue(string value) {
     this->value = value;
 }
 
-const string mei::MeiElement::getTail() {
+const string mei::MeiElement::getTail() const {
     return this->tail;
 }
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ void mei::MeiElement::setTail(string tail) {
     this->tail = tail;
 }
 
-const vector<MeiAttribute*>& mei::MeiElement::getAttributes() {
+const vector<MeiAttribute*>& mei::MeiElement::getAttributes() const {
     return this->attributes;
 }
 
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ void mei::MeiElement::setAttributes(const vector<MeiAttribute*> attrs) {
     }
 }
 
-MeiAttribute* mei::MeiElement::getAttribute(string name) {
-    for (vector<MeiAttribute*>::iterator iter = attributes.begin(); iter != attributes.end(); ++iter) {
+MeiAttribute* mei::MeiElement::getAttribute(string name) const {
+    for (vector<MeiAttribute*>::const_iterator iter = attributes.begin(); iter != attributes.end(); ++iter) {
         if ((*iter)->getName() == name) {
             return *iter;
         }
@@ -151,10 +151,10 @@ MeiAttribute* mei::MeiElement::getAttribute(string name) {
     return NULL;
 }
 
-bool mei::MeiElement::hasAttribute(string name) {
+bool mei::MeiElement::hasAttribute(string name) const {
     if (attributes.empty()) return false;
     
-    for (vector<MeiAttribute*>::iterator iter = attributes.begin(); iter != attributes.end(); ++iter) {
+    for (vector<MeiAttribute*>::const_iterator iter = attributes.begin(); iter != attributes.end(); ++iter) {
         if ((*iter)->getName() == name) return true;
     }
     return false;
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ void mei::MeiElement::removeAttribute(string name) {
     }
 }
 
-bool mei::MeiElement::hasParent() {
+bool mei::MeiElement::hasParent() const {
     return parent != NULL;
 }
 
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ void mei::MeiElement::setParent(MeiElement *parent) {
     this->parent = parent;
 }
 
-mei::MeiElement* mei::MeiElement::getParent() {
+mei::MeiElement* mei::MeiElement::getParent() const {
     return this->parent;
 }
 
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ void mei::MeiElement::setDocument(MeiDocument *document) throw(DocumentRootNotSe
     }
 }
 
-MeiDocument* mei::MeiElement::getDocument() {
+MeiDocument* mei::MeiElement::getDocument() const {
     return this->document;
 }
 
@@ -272,13 +272,13 @@ void mei::MeiElement::setChildren(vector<MeiElement*> children) {
     updateDocument();
 }
 
-const vector<mei::MeiElement*>& mei::MeiElement::getChildren() {
+const vector<mei::MeiElement*>& mei::MeiElement::getChildren() const {
     return this->children;
 }
 
-const vector<mei::MeiElement*> mei::MeiElement::getChildrenByName(string name) {
+const vector<mei::MeiElement*> mei::MeiElement::getChildrenByName(string name) const {
     vector<mei::MeiElement*> res;
-    for (vector<MeiElement*>::iterator iter = this->children.begin(); iter != this->children.end(); ++iter) {
+    for (vector<MeiElement*>::const_iterator iter = this->children.begin(); iter != this->children.end(); ++iter) {
         if ((*iter)->getName() == name) {
             res.push_back(*iter);
         }
@@ -324,19 +324,19 @@ void mei::MeiElement::removeChildrenByName(string name) {
     updateDocument();
 }
 
-bool mei::MeiElement::hasChildren() {
+bool mei::MeiElement::hasChildren() const {
     // topsy-turvy world! returns true if not empty.
     return !this->children.empty();
 }
 
-bool mei::MeiElement::hasChildren(string cname) {
-    for (vector<MeiElement*>::iterator iter = this->children.begin(); iter != this->children.end(); ++iter) {
+bool mei::MeiElement::hasChildren(string cname) const {
+    for (vector<MeiElement*>::const_iterator iter = this->children.begin(); iter != this->children.end(); ++iter) {
         if ((*iter)->getName() == cname) return true;
     }
     return false;
 }
 
-mei::MeiElement* mei::MeiElement::getAncestor(string name) {
+mei::MeiElement* mei::MeiElement::getAncestor(string name) const {
     if (parent == NULL) {
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ mei::MeiElement* mei::MeiElement::getAncestor(string name) {
     return parent->getAncestor(name);
 }
 
-bool mei::MeiElement::hasAncestor(string name) {
+bool mei::MeiElement::hasAncestor(string name) const {
     MeiElement* m = getAncestor(name);
     if (m != NULL) {
         return true;
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ vector<mei::MeiElement*> mei::MeiElement::getDescendantsByName(string name) {
     return res;
 }
 
-vector<mei::MeiElement*> mei::MeiElement::getPeers() {
+vector<mei::MeiElement*> mei::MeiElement::getPeers() const {
     if (this->parent) {
         return this->parent->getChildren();
     }
diff --git a/src/meielement.h b/src/meielement.h
index f469331e..5114e417 100644
--- a/src/meielement.h
+++ b/src/meielement.h
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
 
         /** \brief Get the id of this element.
          */
-        const std::string getId();
+        const std::string getId() const;
 
         /** \brief Set an element's ID. 
          *   This is not always necessary since an element
@@ -97,14 +97,14 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
 
         /** \brief Get the name of this element
          */
-        const std::string getName();
+        const std::string getName() const;
 
         /** \brief get the xml tail of an Mei Element
          *
          *  \return The xml tail associated with the Mei Element or
          *          an empty string if the Mei Element has no tail
          */
-        const std::string getTail();
+        const std::string getTail() const;
 
         /** \brief Set the xml tail associated with the Mei Element */
         void setTail(std::string tail);
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
          *  \return A string indicating the value of the Mei Element or
          *          an empty string if the element has no value
          */
-        const std::string getValue();
+        const std::string getValue() const;
 
         /** \brief Set the value associated with the Mei Element */
         void setValue(std::string value);
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
          *
          *  \return A const vector of the attributes on this element.
          */
-        const std::vector<MeiAttribute*>& getAttributes();
+        const std::vector<MeiAttribute*>& getAttributes() const;
 
         /**
          * \brief add all of the given attributes to this element.
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
          *
          * \return the attribute with this name, or NULL if the atribute doesn't exist.
          */
-        MeiAttribute* getAttribute(std::string name);
+        MeiAttribute* getAttribute(std::string name) const;
 
         /**
          * \brief Remove the attribute with the given name.
@@ -162,17 +162,17 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
         /**
          * \brief See if this element has an attribute with the given name.
          */
-        bool hasAttribute(std::string name);
+        bool hasAttribute(std::string name) const;
 
         /** \brief Check if this element has a parent element
          *
          *  \return True if it does, False if it does not
          */
-        bool hasParent();
+        bool hasParent() const;
         
         /** \brief Get this element's parent, if it exists.
          */
-        MeiElement *getParent();
+        MeiElement *getParent() const;
 
         /** \brief Links this element and it's children to the given document
          *
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
 
         /** \brief Gets a pointer to the document this element is attached to.
          */
-        MeiDocument* getDocument();
+        MeiDocument* getDocument() const;
 
         /** \brief Removes the pointer from this element and it's children to its currently assigned document
          *
@@ -215,12 +215,12 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
         /**
          * \brief Get all of the children of this element.
          */
-        const std::vector<MeiElement*>& getChildren();
+        const std::vector<MeiElement*>& getChildren() const;
 
         /**
          * \brief Get all of the children of this element that have a given name.
          */
-        const std::vector<MeiElement*> getChildrenByName(std::string name);
+        const std::vector<MeiElement*> getChildrenByName(std::string name) const;
 
         /**
          * \brief Remove all of the children of this element.
@@ -245,25 +245,25 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
         /**
          * \brief Check if this element has any children.
          */
-        bool hasChildren();
+        bool hasChildren() const;
 
         /**
          * \brief Check if this element has any children with the given name.
          */
-        bool hasChildren(std::string cname);
+        bool hasChildren(std::string cname) const;
 
         /**
          *  \brief Get the ancestor with a given element name
          *
          *  \return MeiElement, or NULL if no ancestor is found.
          */
-        MeiElement* getAncestor(std::string name);
+        MeiElement* getAncestor(std::string name) const;
 
         /**
          *  \brief Returns TRUE if this element has an ancestor element 
          *     with a given name; FALSE otherwise
          */   
-        bool hasAncestor(std::string name);
+        bool hasAncestor(std::string name) const;
 
         /**
          *  \brief Get all descendants of the current element.
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ class MEI_EXPORT MeiElement
          *
          *  \return A vector of MeiElements (possibly empty).
          */
-        std::vector<MeiElement*> getPeers();
+        std::vector<MeiElement*> getPeers() const;
 
         /** \brief Gets this item's position in the flattened document structure.
          *      Position is numbered by the order the elements occur, so the first
diff --git a/tools/langs/cplusplus.py b/tools/langs/cplusplus.py
index 64b3d131..5599ec66 100644
--- a/tools/langs/cplusplus.py
+++ b/tools/langs/cplusplus.py
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@
 AUTHORS = "Andrew Hankinson, Alastair Porter, and Others"
 
 METHODS_HEADER_TEMPLATE = """{documentation}
-        MeiAttribute* get{attNameUpper}();
+        MeiAttribute* get{attNameUpper}() const;
         void set{attNameUpper}(std::string _{attNameLowerJoined});
-        bool has{attNameUpper}();
+        bool has{attNameUpper}() const;
         void remove{attNameUpper}();
 """
 
-METHODS_IMPL_TEMPLATE = """MeiAttribute* mei::{className}::get{attNameUpper}() {{
+METHODS_IMPL_TEMPLATE = """MeiAttribute* mei::{className}::get{attNameUpper}() const {{
     if (!{accessor}hasAttribute("{attNameLower}")) {{
         return NULL;
     }}
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
     {accessor}addAttribute(a);
 }};
 
-bool mei::{className}::has{attNameUpper}() {{
+bool mei::{className}::has{attNameUpper}() const {{
     return {accessor}hasAttribute("{attNameLower}");
 }};