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The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by George Speight .
Section 1 states that "The Republic of the Fiji Islands is a sovereign, democratic state." This underscoring of Fiji's commitment to democracy comes against the backdrop of political instability that has sometimes plagued Fiji, resulting in two coups d'état prior to the adoption of the constitution, and a third and fourth since.
The 1970 Constitution went into effect 9 October 1970, [3] signaling Fiji's independence from Britain (though it remained a member of the Commonwealth). [4]The Constitution set up a House of Representatives requiring 22 seats to represent voters registered as Fijian, 22 to those registered as Indian, and 8 to voters registered as neither.
Chapter 7: Executive Government. Chapter 7 of the 1997 Constitution is titled Executive Government. There are five Parts, further subdivided into thirty sections, which set out the organization, functions, and responsibilities of the executive branch of government.
Fiji's Bill of Rights covers Sections 21 through 43 of the Constitution. Significantly, it sets out the rights of the people and the limitations on the powers of the various branches of government, before specifying the structure of the government. The idea is that the government is subject to human rights, rather than the reverse.
From 28 September 1987 to 24 July 1990, Fiji functioned without a constitution. Any child born in Fiji in that period is declared to be a citizen of Fiji. Fiji had no constitutional government between 28 September and 6 October 1987; any child born abroad whose father was a citizen is taken to be a citizen.
Part 1 of Chapter 11 establishes a code of conduct that applies to all constitutional officers and government employees. It comprises just one section: Section 156. Political leaders and civil servants are forbidden to engage in activities that entail, or could be seen to entail, a conflict of interest between their private interests and public duties, or that would compromise "fair exercise ...
Chapter 9 of the 1997 Constitution of Fiji is titled Judiciary. It is divided into twenty-two sections, setting out the composition and functions of the Judicial branch of the Fijian government. The three constitutional courts