Papua New Guinea · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Papua New Guinea, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- The Constitution and Organic Laws
- Supreme law; Organic Laws sit above ordinary statute.
- Acts of the National Parliament
- Unicameral legislature of 118 members.
- Custom
- Adopted as part of the underlying law by Schedule 2.1 and applied first under the Underlying Law Act 2000.
- Common law and equity
- The pre-independence English common law, but only where custom does not apply and it suits PNG circumstances.
- Judicial precedent
- Supreme Court decisions bind all lower courts.
The legislative process
Bills pass through three readings in the single chamber and receive the Governor-General's assent. Constitutional amendments must be published in advance, and depending on the provision require an absolute majority, two-thirds or three-quarters of all members, voted on at two sittings at least two months apart. Organic Laws follow the same entrenched process. The Speaker certifies that the constitutional requirements were met, and failure to follow them has led the Supreme Court to strike amendments down.
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