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 | Solomon IslandsReviewed | ArmeniaReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Common law with customary law | Civil law |
| System of government | Constitutional monarchy | Unitary parliamentary republic |
| Constitution | Constitution of Solomon Islands | Constitution of the Republic of Armenia |
| In force since | 1978 | 1995 |
| Capital | Honiara | Yerevan |
| Official languages | English, Solomon Islands Pijin | Armenian |
| Currency | Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) | Dram (AMD) |
| Population | 740,000 | 2,800,000 |
| Division of powers | Unitary with statutory decentralisation. Nine provinces plus Honiara City have assemblies under the Provincial Government Act 1997 exercising powers delegated by Parliament, not entrenched by the Constitution. Proposals for a federal structure have been debated since the conflict but never enacted. | Unitary, with ten provinces headed by centrally appointed governors and Yerevan as a separate community with an elected council. Local self-government is guaranteed constitutionally and has been consolidated through mergers of small communities. |
| How law is made | Bills receive three readings in the single chamber, are usually referred to a Bills and Legislation Committee, and then receive the Governor-General's assent. Ordinary bills need a simple majority of those present. Constitutional amendments need two-thirds of all members, rising to three-quarters for entrenched provisions such as the Bill of Rights and the office of Governor-General. | Bills are introduced by the Government, deputies or a citizens' initiative of 50,000 voters, and pass two readings in the National Assembly. Constitutional laws need three-fifths of the total membership. The President signs and publishes within 21 days, or may return a law once to the Assembly, or refer it to the Constitutional Court. Government bills may be designated urgent, compressing the timetable. |
| Legal profession | A fused profession under the Legal Practitioners Act: practitioners are admitted by the High Court and hold a practising certificate. Most qualify through the University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu or Fiji and complete the Professional Diploma in Legal Practice. The Solomon Islands Bar Association is the professional body, while admission and discipline sit with the High Court and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. | Advocates are licensed by the Chamber of Advocates after the qualifying examination and the School of Advocates course, and hold a monopoly on criminal defence. Public defenders sit within the Chamber rather than a separate agency, which is unusual and makes the Chamber the main legal aid provider. Notaries are licensed by the Ministry of Justice and their authentication is required for property transactions, powers of attorney and many corporate acts. |
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.