Legal System of Cambodia

Cambodia is located in East N Southeast Asia. It is geographically situated in southeastern asia, bordering the gulf of thailand, between thailand, vietnam, and laos. The country achieved independence on 9 november 1953 (from france). The capital is Phnom Penh.

Government Overview

Government Type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy Chief of State: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004) Head of Government: Prime Minister HUN MANET (since 22 August 2023) Cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch Administrative Divisions: 24 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (krong, singular and plural)

provinces: Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Kep, Koh Kong, Kratie, Mondolkiri, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Sihanouk, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Pursat, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Takeo, Tbong Khmum

municipalities: Phnom Penh (Phnum Penh) National Holiday: Independence Day, 9 November (1953) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Cambodia is described as civil law system (influenced by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia), customary law, Communist legal theory, and common law International Law: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: previous 1947; latest promulgated 21 September 1993 Amendment Process: proposed by the monarch, by the prime minister, or by the president of the National Assembly if supported by one fourth of the Assembly membership; passage requires two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles on the multiparty democratic form of government and the monarchy cannot be amended

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Council (organized into 5- and 9-judge panels and includes a court chief and deputy chief); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) Judge Selection: Supreme Court and Constitutional Council judge candidates recommended by the Supreme Council of Magistracy, a 17-member body chaired by the monarch and includes other high-level judicial officers; judges of both courts appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council judges appointed for 9-year terms with one third of the court renewed every 3 years Subordinate Courts: Appellate Court; provincial and municipal courts; Military Court

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of bicameral Lower Chamber: National Assembly (Radhsphea Ney Preah Recheanachakr Kampuchea) (125 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): proportional representation Upper Chamber: Senate

Citizenship and Suffrage

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

Historical Background

Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries.  Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863, and it became part of French Indochina in 1887.

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