Suriname · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Suriname, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- Constitution
- Supreme; enforced by the Constitutional Court since 2020.
- Ratified treaties
- Self-executing provisions take precedence over conflicting national law.
- Codes
- Burgerlijk Wetboek, Wetboek van Strafrecht, Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering — all Dutch-derived.
- Case law
- Not formally binding; Dutch doctrine and older Dutch case law remain persuasive.
The legislative process
Bills are introduced by the executive or by Assembly members, debated and passed by a simple majority of the 51-member Assembly, then ratified and promulgated by the President. Constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority of the Assembly. Because the Assembly also elects the President, executive and legislature are closely fused.
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