Legal System of Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde is located in Africa. It is geographically situated in western africa, group of islands in the north atlantic ocean, west of senegal. The country achieved independence on 5 july 1975 (from portugal). The capital is Praia.

Government Overview

Government Type: parliamentary republic Chief of State: President Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 9 November 2021) Head of Government: Prime Minister Jose Ulisses CORREIA e SILVA (since 22 April 2016) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister Administrative Divisions: 22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, São Domingos, São Filipe, São Lourenco dos Orgaos, São Miguel, São Salvador do Mundo, São Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de São Nicolau National Holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Cabo Verde is described as civil law system of Portugal International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992 Amendment Process: proposals require support of at least four fifths of the active National Assembly membership; amendment drafts require sponsorship of at least one third of the active Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional sections, including those on national independence, form of government, political pluralism, suffrage, and human rights and liberties, cannot be amended

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 7 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and administrative sections) Judge Selection: judge appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Superior Judicial Council (SJC), a 16-member independent body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general, 8 private citizens, 2 judges, 2 prosecutors, the senior legal inspector of the Attorney General’s office, and a representative of the Ministry of Justice; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court of Justice and in consultation with the SJC; judges appointed for life Subordinate Courts: appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs 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 Cabo Verde Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

The Portuguese discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands of Cabo Verde in the 15th century; Cabo Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. The fusing of European and various African cultural traditions is reflected in Cabo Verde’s Crioulo language, music, and pano textiles.

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