Rights
2010 Constitution with a strong presidency and a Constitutional Court
The 2010 Constitution replaced the 1992 revision and concentrates executive power in a President who is the head of the winning party's list rather than separately elected. Title II contains fundamental rights, and the Tribunal Constitucional exercises both abstract and concrete review. The Supreme Court remains the apex of the ordinary courts.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The Tribunal Constitucional reviews constitutionality; the Tribunal Supremo heads the ordinary courts.
Governing law
- Constituição da República de Angola 2010 — Title II fundamental rights; arts 180-186 Constitutional Court
- Lei Orgânica do Tribunal ConstitucionalLei 2/08
In practice
The 2010 text abolished direct presidential elections in favour of automatic investiture of the leading party's head of list, which is the single most consequential feature of Angolan constitutional design. Constitutional review is concentrated rather than diffuse: ordinary courts cannot disapply a statute themselves and must refer.