Rights
A 1945 Constitution transformed by four post-Suharto amendments
The 1945 Constitution was amended four times between 1999 and 2002, converting a highly centralised presidential system into one with direct presidential elections, a Constitutional Court, regional autonomy and an enforceable rights chapter. The Constitutional Court has since become a genuinely consequential institution, striking down statutory provisions with regularity.
Governing law
- Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, 1945 — As amended 1999-2002.
- Law No. 24 of 2003 on the Constitutional Court — Jurisdiction and procedure.
In practice
The President is directly elected for a maximum of two five-year terms. The Constitutional Court reviews statutes against the Constitution and can annul provisions. Chapter XA guarantees human rights, though some are subject to statutory limitation. Regional autonomy devolves substantial authority to provinces and regencies, with Aceh, Papua and Yogyakarta holding special status. Constitutional Court decisions are directly operative and frequently change commercial law — the 2021 Job Creation Law ruling is the leading example. Aceh's special autonomy includes Sharia jurisdiction, which does not apply elsewhere in Indonesia.