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	MadagascarReviewed	NamibiaReviewed	SurinameReviewed
Legal family	French civil law with customary law	Mixed Roman-Dutch and English common law	Civil law
System of government	Semi-presidential republic	Semi-presidential republic	Unitary presidential republic
Constitution	Constitution of the Fourth Republic	Constitution of the Republic of Namibia	Constitution of the Republic of Suriname
In force since	2010	1990	1987
Capital	Antananarivo	Windhoek	Paramaribo
Official languages	Malagasy, French	English	Dutch
Currency	Malagasy ariary (MGA)	Namibian dollar (NAD)	Surinamese dollar (SRD)
Population	30,300,000	2,600,000	620,000
Division of powers	Unitary with a decentralised structure of 23 regions and communes. Successive constitutions have promised fuller decentralisation, including provincial autonomy, which has not been implemented.	Unitary with 14 administrative regions and elected regional councils, which also constitute the National Council, the upper chamber. Traditional authorities exercise recognised functions over communal land and customary law.	Unitary, with ten districts headed by appointed district commissioners and elected district councils. Indigenous and Maroon communities in the interior are governed by traditional authorities whose land rights are not yet fully codified, despite repeated Inter-American Court rulings requiring it.
How law is made	Bills originate with the government or members of either chamber, are examined in committee, and must pass both the National Assembly and the Senate; the Assembly prevails on disagreement. The Haute Cour Constitutionnelle may review a law before promulgation, and organic laws must be referred to it as a matter of course.	Bills pass the National Assembly through three readings, then go to the National Council for review. The Council may confirm, propose amendments, or object; the Assembly can override an objection by a two-thirds majority. The President then assents, and constitutional amendments require two-thirds of both chambers and may never diminish the rights chapter.	Bills are introduced by the executive or by Assembly members, debated and passed by a simple majority of the 51-member Assembly, then ratified and promulgated by the President. Constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority of the Assembly. Because the Assembly also elects the President, executive and legislature are closely fused.
Legal profession	Avocats admitted to the Ordre des avocats de Madagascar after a law degree and professional training, alongside notaires for authenticated instruments and huissiers for service and enforcement — the standard French division of functions.	A fused profession under the Legal Practitioners Act: a single class of legal practitioner is admitted after a law degree and the Justice Training Centre's postgraduate course, and the Law Society of Namibia regulates practice.	Qualification is by a Surinamese law degree from the Anton de Kom University followed by admission as an advocaat by the Hof van Justitie and enrolment in the Surinaamse Orde van Advocaten. Practice is conducted in Dutch, so foreign parties should budget for sworn translation; notarissen hold exclusive competence over conveyancing and company deeds.

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.