Comparison

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Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.

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Comparison of selected legal systems
Attribute	KiribatiReviewed	FranceReviewed
Legal family	Common law with customary law	Civil law
System of government	Presidential republic	Unitary semi-presidential republic
Constitution	Constitution of Kiribati	Constitution of the Fifth Republic
In force since	1979	1958
Capital	South Tarawa	Paris
Official languages	Gilbertese, English	French
Currency	Australian dollar (AUD)	Euro (EUR)
Population	133,000	68,200,000
Division of powers	Unitary with statutory island councils. The Local Government Act gives each inhabited island a council with bylaw-making powers, and on most islands the traditional maneaba (meeting house assembly) remains the real forum for community decisions. Banaba (Ocean Island) has a distinct status reflecting the displacement of the Banaban community to Rabi in Fiji, with reserved representation in the Maneaba.	Semi-presidential: the President holds reserved powers over defence and foreign affairs; the Government answers to Parliament. The Conseil constitutionnel reviews statutes before promulgation and, since 2008, on referral from litigation.
How law is made	Bills receive three readings in the single chamber and are assented to by the Beretitenti. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority of all members, and amendments affecting Banaban land rights or the Banaban representative additionally require the support of the Rabi Council of Leaders — a rare example of a minority community holding a constitutional veto.	A projet or proposition de loi shuttles between the chambers; the Assembly can be given the last word. Organic laws and constitutional amendments follow stricter routes.
Legal profession	A small fused profession admitted by the High Court under the Legal Practitioners Ordinance. Many practitioners are in government service, and the People's Lawyer's office carries most private client work. Because the Court of Appeal is non-resident, appellate hearings are grouped into sittings when judges travel to Tarawa.	Avocats qualify through a CRFPA examination and the CAPA. Notaires, huissiers and avocats aux Conseils are separate regulated professions.

A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.