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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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Comparison of selected legal systems
AttributeParaguayReviewedChinaReviewedFranceReviewed
Legal familyCivil lawSocialist civil lawCivil law
System of governmentUnitary presidential republicSocialist one-party republicUnitary semi-presidential republic
ConstitutionConstitution of the Republic of ParaguayConstitution of the People's Republic of ChinaConstitution of the Fifth Republic
In force since199219821958
CapitalAsunciรณnBeijingParis
Official languagesSpanish, GuaranรญStandard Chinese (Putonghua)French
CurrencyParaguayan guaranรญ (PYG)Renminbi (CNY)Euro (EUR)
Population6,900,0001,410,000,00068,200,000
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.Unitary, with a highly asymmetric structure: 23 provinces, five autonomous regions, four directly administered municipalities and two special administrative regions. Hong Kong and Macao operate under 'one country, two systems' with their own Basic Laws, their own courts of final appeal, and legal systems that remain common-law and Portuguese-derived civil-law respectively. Provincial people's congresses may enact local regulations that must not contravene national law.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 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.The NPC meets in plenary once a year, so the Standing Committee enacts most legislation. A bill is normally read three times under the Legislation Law, with drafts published for public comment โ€” the Civil Code drafts drew over a million submissions. The NPCSC also has power to interpret laws, which it exercises as a substantive lawmaking tool. There is no presidential veto: the President promulgates what the NPC or its Standing Committee has passed.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 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.Lawyers are licensed under the Lawyers Law after passing the National Unified Legal Profession Qualification Examination, which since 2018 has also been the common entry route for judges, prosecutors and notaries. Firms are licensed and subject to annual inspection by provincial justice departments, and membership of the All China Lawyers Association is mandatory. A 2012 amendment to the Lawyers Law requires an oath that includes loyalty to the leadership of the Communist Party, and the annual licence renewal is the principal point of leverage over practitioners in politically sensitive work.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 โ€” the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.