Comparison
Read two legal systems against each other
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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| Attribute | Papua New GuineaReviewed |
|---|---|
| Legal family | Common law with customary law |
| System of government | Constitutional monarchy |
| Constitution | Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea |
| In force since | 1975 |
| Capital | Port Moresby |
| Official languages | English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu |
| Currency | Papua New Guinean kina (PGK) |
| Population | 10,300,000 |
| Division of powers | Decentralised but not federal. Twenty-two provinces, including the National Capital District, have provincial governments with limited legislative power under the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments 1995. The Autonomous Region of Bougainville has a distinct constitutional status: its 2019 non-binding referendum returned 97.7% for independence, and the Constitution was amended in 2024 to provide a ratification pathway. |
| How law is made | Bills pass through three readings in the single chamber and receive the Governor-General's assent. Constitutional amendments must be published in advance, and depending on the provision require an absolute majority, two-thirds or three-quarters of all members, voted on at two sittings at least two months apart. Organic Laws follow the same entrenched process. The Speaker certifies that the constitutional requirements were met, and failure to follow them has led the Supreme Court to strike amendments down. |
| Legal profession | A fused profession under the Lawyers Act 1986: lawyers are admitted by the National Court and hold an unrestricted or restricted practising certificate issued by the Papua New Guinea Law Society. Most qualify through the University of Papua New Guinea law degree and the Legal Training Institute's practical course. The Law Society regulates admission and discipline, and the Public Solicitor is the main provider of representation for those who cannot pay. |
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.