Ecuador · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Ecuador, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- Constitution and international human-rights instruments
- Instruments more favourable than the Constitution prevail (Article 424).
- Organic and ordinary statutes
- Organic laws regulate rights and institutions and outrank ordinary laws.
- Codes
- Civil Code, Código Orgánico Integral Penal (2014), Código Orgánico General de Procesos (2015), Labour Code.
- Binding precedent
- Constitutional Court jurisprudence binds; the National Court issues binding precedent by triple reiteration.
The legislative process
Bills go to the Assembly from members, the President, the Court, citizens or autonomous governments, and need two debates. The President may fully or partially object; a full objection can only be overcome after a year or by a two-thirds vote. Urgent economic bills become law by decree if the Assembly fails to act in thirty days. Amendment routes differ by depth, from Assembly vote to constituent assembly.
Found something out of date on Ecuador · Legislation?
Corrections are reviewed against the primary source before anything changes.