Brunei · Government
Government and administration in Brunei
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state and government — Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan
- Also Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Executive — Council of Ministers
- Appointed by and answerable to the Sultan.
- Legislative — Legislative Council
- Reconvened in 2004; almost entirely appointed, with limited powers.
- Advisory — Privy Council and Religious Council
- The Religious Council advises on Islamic law and its interpretation.
- Judicial — Supreme Court and Syariah Courts
- Two parallel hierarchies with separate appellate routes.
How legislation is made
In form, bills are introduced in the Legislative Council and assented to by the Sultan. In practice the significant instruments are Orders made by the Sultan under the emergency proclamation, which take effect on publication in the Government Gazette without Council passage. The Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 was enacted this way.
Enforcement institutions
- Royal Brunei Police Force
- General policing under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Internal Security Department
- Administers detention without trial under the Internal Security Act.
- Anti-Corruption Bureau
- Investigates corruption; reports to the Prime Minister's Office.
- Religious Enforcement Division
- Enforces Syariah offences under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
- Attorney General's Chambers
- Prosecutes and advises government; drafts legislation.
Government bodies and regulators
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