Laos · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Laos, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- The Constitution
- Interpreted by the National Assembly Standing Committee, not by courts.
- Laws of the National Assembly
- Promulgated by presidential decree after passage.
- The Civil Code 2018
- In force from 2020; consolidated the previously scattered private-law statutes.
- Decrees and ministerial instructions
- Where most operative regulatory detail sits.
- Land Law
- All land is national property; individuals and companies hold use rights and concessions.
The legislative process
Draft laws are prepared by ministries, reviewed by the Ministry of Justice and the Assembly's committees, and passed by the National Assembly, which meets in ordinary session twice a year. The President promulgates by decree. Because sessions are short and infrequent, a great deal of binding detail is issued as government decrees and ministerial instructions between sittings.
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