Legal System of Angola

Angola is located in Africa. It is geographically situated in southern africa, bordering the south atlantic ocean, between namibia and democratic republic of the congo. The country achieved independence on 11 november 1975 (from portugal). The capital is Luanda.

Government Overview

Government Type: presidential republic Chief of State: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017) Head of Government: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president Administrative Divisions: 21 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando, Cubango, Cuanza-Norte, Cuanza-Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Icolo e Bengo, Luanda, Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Moxico Leste, Namibe, Uige, Zaire National Holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Angola is described as civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010 Amendment Process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly subject to prior Constitutional Court review if requested by the president of the republic

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 16 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 11 judges) Judge Selection: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, an 18-member body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 4 nominated by the president, 4 elected by National Assembly, 2 elected by Supreme National Council, 1 elected by competitive submission of curricula; judges serve single 7-year terms Subordinate Courts: provincial and municipal courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Angola Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

Bantu-speaking people settled in the area now called Angola in 6th century A.D.; by the 10th century various Bantu groups had established kingdoms, of which Kongo became the most powerful. From the late-14th to the mid-19th century, a Kingdom of Kongo stretched across central Africa from present-day northern Angola into the current Congo republics. It traded heavily with the Portuguese who, beginning in the 16th century, established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Angola based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.