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 | KuwaitReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Common law with customary law | Mixed (civil law and Islamic law) |
| System of government | Constitutional monarchy | Unitary constitutional monarchy |
| Constitution | Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea | Constitution of the State of Kuwait |
| In force since | 1975 | 1962 |
| Capital | Port Moresby | Kuwait City |
| Official languages | English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu | Arabic |
| Currency | Papua New Guinean kina (PGK) | Kuwaiti dinar (KWD) |
| Population | 10,300,000 | 4,300,000 |
| 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. | Unitary. Six governorates administered by appointed governors, with no legislative competence. |
| 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. | Under the constitution as designed, bills passed by the National Assembly required Emiri sanction, and the Emir could return a bill for reconsideration which the Assembly could override by a two-thirds majority. With the Assembly dissolved and the relevant articles suspended since May 2024, legislation is made by Emiri decree on the proposal of the Council of Ministers and published in the Official Gazette (Kuwait Al-Youm). |
| 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. | Advocacy is reserved to Kuwaiti nationals enrolled with the Ministry of Justice and the Kuwait Bar Association, with foreign lawyers acting as consultants and unable to appear; pleadings are in Arabic. Judges are appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, and a significant proportion of the bench has historically been seconded from other Arab states. Notarial authentication at the Ministry of Justice is required for powers of attorney, property transfers and company formation documents. |
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.