Legal System of Fiji

Fiji is located in Australia Oceania. It is geographically situated in oceania, island group in the south pacific ocean, about two-thirds of the way from hawaii to new zealand. The country achieved independence on 10 october 1970 (from the uk). The capital is Suva (on Viti Levu).

Government Overview

Government Type: parliamentary republic Chief of State: President Ratu Naiqama LALABALAVU (since 12 November 2024) Head of Government: Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada RABUKA (since 24 December 2022) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament Administrative Divisions: 14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma*, Serua, Tailevu National Holiday: Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Fiji is described as common law system based on the English model International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest signed into law 6 September 2013 Amendment Process: proposed as a bill by Parliament and supported by at least three quarters of its members, followed by referral to the president and then to the Electoral Commission, which conducts a referendum; passage requires approval by at least three-quarters of registered voters and assent by the president

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, all justices of the Court of Appeal, and judges appointed specifically as Supreme Court judges); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, all puisne judges of the High Court, and judges specifically appointed to the Court of Appeal); High Court (chaired by the chief justice and includes a minimum of 10 puisne judges; High Court organized into civil, criminal, family, employment, and tax divisions) Judge Selection: chief justice appointed by the president of Fiji on the advice of the prime minister following consultation with the parliamentary leader of the opposition; judges of the Supreme Court, the president of the Court of Appeal, the justices of the Court of Appeal, and puisne judges of the High Court appointed by the president of Fiji on the nomination of the Judicial Service Commission after consulting with the cabinet minister and the House of Representatives committee responsible for the administration of justice; the chief justice, Supreme Court judges, and justices of Appeal generally required to retire at age 70, but this requirement may be waived for one or more sessions of the court; puisne judges appointed for not less than 4 years or more than 7 years, with mandatory retirement at age 65 Subordinate Courts: Magistrates’ Court (organized into civil, criminal, juvenile, and small claims divisions)

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 Fiji Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

Austronesians settled Fiji around 1000 B.C., followed by successive waves of Melanesians starting around the first century A.D. Fijians traded with Polynesian groups in Samoa and Tonga, and by about 900, much of Fiji was in the Tu’i Tongan Empire’s sphere of influence. The Tongan influence declined significantly by 1200, while Melanesian seafarers continued to periodically arrive in Fiji, further mixing Melanesian and Polynesian cultural traditions.

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