THE CONSTITUTION OF SIERRA LEONE, 1991

1 The Laws of SIERRA Leone on the SIERRA Leone Web The CONSTITUTION of SIERRA Leone, 1991 THE CONSTITUTION OF SIERRA LEONE, 1991 (Act No. 6 of 1991) ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS CHAPTER I THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE 1. Declaration of Republic 2. Public Seal 3. The National Flag and National Anthem CHAPTER II FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY 4. Fundamental Obligations of Government 5. Government and the People 6. Political Objectives 7. Economic Objectives 8. Social Objectives 9. Educational Objectives 10. Foreign Policy Objectives 11.

2 Obligations of the Mass Media 12. Enhancement of National Culture 13. Duties of the Citizen 14. Fundamental Principles not Justiciable CHAPTER III THE RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL 15. Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms of the Individual 16. Protection of Right to Life 17. Protection From Arbitrary Arrest or Detention 18. Protection of Freedom of Movement 19. Protection From Slavery and Forced Labour 20. Protection From Inhuman Treatment 21. Protection From Deprivation of Property 22.

3 Protection for Privacy of Home and Other Property 23. Provision to Secure Protection of Law 24. Protection of Freedom of Conscience 25. Protection of Freedom of Expression and the Press 26. Protection of Freedom of Assembly and Association 27. Protection From Discrimination 28. Enforcement of Protective Provisions 29. Public Emergency 30. Interpretation of Chapter III CHAPTER IV THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE 31. Registration of Voters 32. Electoral Commission The Laws of SIERRA Leone on the SIERRA Leone Web The CONSTITUTION of SIERRA Leone, 1991 33.

4 Functions of the Electoral Commission 34. Political Parties Registration Commission 35. Registration and Conduct of Political Parties 36. Secret Ballot 37. Referendum 38. Constituencies and Elections 39. Filling of Vacancies CHAPTER V THE EXECUTIVE PART I THE PRESIDENT 40. Office of the President 41. Qualifications for Office of President 42. Election of President 43. Period During Which Presidential Elections Shall Take Place 44. Parliament to Make Laws for Election of President 45. Presidential Returning Officer 46. Tenure of Office of President, etc.

5 47. President in Parliament 48. Incidents of Office, etc. 49. Vacancy in Office of President 50. Mental or Physical Incapacity 51. Misconduct by President 52. Temporary Filling of Vacancy PART II EXECUTIVE POWERS 53. Exercise of Executive Authority in SIERRA Leone 54. Vice-President 55. Vacancy in Office of Vice President 56. Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Government 57. Oaths to be Taken by Ministers, etc. 58. Ministerial Vacancies 59. Establishment of Cabinet 60. Collective Responsibility 61. CONSTITUTION of Offices 62. Administration of Ministries 63.

6 Prerogative of Mercy 64. Establishment of the Office of Attorney-General and Minister of justice 65. Solicitor-General 66. Director of Public Prosecutions 67. Secretary to the President 68. Secretary to the Cabinet 69. Secretary to the Vice-President 70. Power of Appointment Vested in the President 71. Other Statutory Appointments 72. Office of Paramount Chief CHAPTER VI THE LEGISLATURE PART I COMPOSITION OF PARLIAMENT 2 The Laws of SIERRA Leone on the SIERRA Leone Web The CONSTITUTION of SIERRA Leone, 1991 73. Establishment of Parliament 74.

7 Members of Parliament 75. Qualifications for Members of Parliament 76. Disqualifications for Members of Parliament 77. Tenure of Seats of Members of Parliament 78. Determination of Question as to Membership of Parliament 79. The Speaker 80. Deputy Speaker 81. Election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker 82. Clerk of Parliament 83. Oath to be Taken by Members of Parliament PART II SUMMONING, PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION 84. Sessions of Parliament 85. Life of Parliament 86. Sittings of Parliament 87. General Election PART III PROCEDURE IN PARLIAMENT 88.

8 Presiding in Parliament 89. Quorum in Parliament 90. Use of English in Parliament 91. Voting in Parliament 92. Unqualified Persons Sitting and Voting 93. Committees in Parliament 94. Regulation of Procedures in Parliament 95. Contempt of Parliament 96. Criminal Proceedings PART IV RESPONSIBILITIES, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES 97. Responsibilities of Members of Parliament 98. Freedom of Speech and Debate 99. Parliamentary Privileges 100. Immunity From Service of Process and Arrest 101. Immunity From Witness Summons 102. Immunity From Serving as Juryman 103.

9 Immunity for Publication of Proceedings 104. Privileges of Witness PART V EXERCISE OF LEGISLATIVE POWER 105. Power to Make Laws 106. Mode of Exercising Legislative Power 107. Minister May Introduce Bill and be Summoned to Parliament 108. Alteration of CONSTITUTION 109. Residual Authority of Parliament PART VI FINANCE 3 The Laws of SIERRA Leone on the SIERRA Leone Web The CONSTITUTION of SIERRA Leone, 1991 110. Authorisation for Imposition of Taxation 111. Consolidated Fund 112. Authorisation of Expenditure from Consolidated Fund 113.

10 Authorisation of Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation 114. Withdrawals of Moneys for General Revenues 115. Remuneration of the President and Certain Other Officers 116. Contingencies Fund 117. Public Debt 118. Loans 119. Establishment of the Office of Auditor-General CHAPTER VII THE JUDICIARY PART I THE SUPERIOR COURT OF JUDICATURE 120. Establishment of the Judiciary PART II THE SUPREME COURT 121. Composition of the Supreme Court 122. Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court 123. Appeals to the Supreme Court 124. Interpretation of the CONSTITUTION 125.