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Comparison of selected legal systems
AttributeParaguayReviewedBelgiumReviewedComorosReviewedGrenadaReviewed
Legal familyCivil lawCivil lawMixed French civil law and Islamic lawCommon law
System of governmentUnitary presidential republicFederal parliamentary constitutional monarchyFederal presidential republicConstitutional monarchy
ConstitutionConstitution of the Republic of ParaguayConstitution of BelgiumConstitution of the Union of the ComorosThe Grenada Constitution
In force since1992183120011973
CapitalAsunciรณnBrusselsMoroniSaint George's
Official languagesSpanish, GuaranรญDutch, French, GermanComorian, Arabic, FrenchEnglish
CurrencyParaguayan guaranรญ (PYG)Euro (EUR)Comorian franc (KMF)East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Population6,900,00011,800,000850,000126,000
Division of powersUnitary with seventeen departments and the capital district, each with an elected governor and departmental board holding administrative and limited fiscal competence. Legislative power is national.Federal, alongside three Regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels-Capital) and three Communities (Flemish, French, German-speaking). Regional decrees and community decrees have the same legal force as federal statute within their competences; there is no general federal supremacy clause. The Constitutional Court, not a hierarchy of norms, resolves conflicts of competence.Federal. Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohรฉli each have a governor and their own assembly with substantial autonomy over local administration, while the Union handles defence, currency, foreign affairs and nationality.Unitary. The state comprises Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique; Carriacou and Petite Martinique have a Ministry and local administration but no separate legislature.
How law is madeBills may start in either chamber and must pass both. The President may object in whole or part; Congress overcomes an objection by absolute majority in both chambers. Constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote of each chamber and ratification by referendum; wholesale reform requires a constituent assembly.Most federal bills now follow a monocameral procedure in the Chamber of Representatives; the Senate intervenes only in the matters the Constitution reserves to bicameral treatment, such as constitutional revision and the institutional framework. The Council of State Legislation Section gives a prior opinion on drafts. A text is sanctioned and promulgated by the King and enters into force after publication in the Moniteur belge / Belgisch Staatsblad.Bills originate with the government or members of the Assembly of the Union, are examined in committee and passed by the Assembly, then promulgated by the President. Matters within island competence are legislated by the island assemblies, and disputes over the boundary between Union and island competence are a standing feature of Comorian constitutional practice.Bills pass three readings in both Houses and receive the Governor-General's assent. Constitutional amendments to entrenched provisions need a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives and then approval by a referendum, a double lock that has defeated every reform package put to voters.
Legal professionA law degree and registration of the title with the Supreme Court, which maintains the roll and exercises discipline. Bar membership is voluntary. Because both Spanish and Guaranรญ are official, courts must provide interpretation, and practitioners outside Asunciรณn are commonly bilingual.Advocaten and avocats are admitted to a local bar and organised in two federations, the OVB for Dutch-speaking and AVOCATS.BE for French and German-speaking members. Qualification requires a law degree, a three-year traineeship (stage) under a supervising lawyer, and bar examinations. Notaries and bailiffs are separate regulated professions with numerus clausus appointments.A small bar of avocats admitted after French-model legal training, supplemented by qadis who require religious-law qualification for the personal-status jurisdiction; many practitioners train in France or Madagascar.A fused profession of legal practitioners admitted by the High Court under the Legal Profession Act, after a law degree and the Legal Education Certificate. The Grenada Bar Association represents practitioners.

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 โ€” the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.