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VUT-1980-C-44017
Breadcrumb
Title_of_text
Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu, 1980.
Main Region
First Region
Country(ies)
Vanuatu
Subjects (Classification)
Constitutional law
Adopted on (Date of text)
1980
Scope of text
National
Type of legislation (Type of text)
Constitution
Second Region
Abstract/Citation
As amended to the Third Amendment Act, 1983. The national language is Bislama; the official languages and languages of education shall be French and English. Chapter 2 contains fundamental rights and duties, including the right to life, liberty, and protection of the law; freedom of expression, assembly, religion and movement, as well as freedom from inhuman treatment and forced labour. Duties include the duty to work in "socially useful employment and, if necessary, to create ...legitimate opportunities for such employment." Chapter 3 governs citizenship; Chapter 4 Parliament; Chapter 5 the National Council of Chiefs; Chapter 6 the Head of State (the President); and Chapter 7 the Executive (Prime Minister). The judiciary is set forth in Chapter 8, including the Supreme Court. Chapter 9 relates to the public service, including the post of an Ombudsman. Chapter 10 governs emergency powers, allowing the promulgation of measures "justifiable in a democratic society," as long as they do not derogate from the right to life and freedom from inhuman treatment and forced labour (art. 69). Chapter 12 stipulates that land belongs to indigenous custom owners. Existing law shall remain in effect (s. 93).
Amending Text region
Amending text(s)
2013-12-20 (VUT-2013-L-96915)
Constitution (Sixth) (Amendment) Act 2013 (Act No. 27 of 2013).
Related Text region
Related text(s)
1980-07-30 (VUT-1980-L-83126)
Citizenship (Entitled Persons) Act [Cap 110] (Act No. 13 of 1980).
Related text(s)
1980-07-30 (VUT-1980-L-83127)
Citizenship Act [Cap 112] (Act No. 16 of 1980).
Electronic region
Electronic source title
Consolidated Edition 2006
Author
Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute (PACLII)
Publisher
University of the South Pacific School of Law
Country
Vanuatu
URL
http://www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/
File
VUT44017.pdf (PDF)
Monograph region
Monograph title
Constitutions of the Countries of the World
Author
Gisbert H. Flanz
Publisher
Oceana Publications
Place of publication
Dobbs Ferry, NY
Country
United States of America
Date
1995-12
Page range
29 p.
ISBN
0-379-00467-4