Republic of Dominica /
República de Dominica Constitution of 1978 Constituciones de 1978

DOMINICA CONSTITUTION OF 1978

Including reforms from 1983 and 1984

Last form: Act 22 of 1984

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Section
1. Fundamental rights and freedoms
2. Protection of right to life
3. Protection of right to personal liberty
4. Protection from slavery and forced labour
5. Protection from inhuman treatment
6. Protection from deprivation of poverty
7. Protection from arbitrary search or entry
8. Provisions to secure protection of law
9. Protection of freedom of conscience
10. Protection of freedom of expression
11. Protection of freedom of assembly and association
12. Protection of freedom of movement
13. Protection from discrimination on the grounds of race, etc.
14. Derogations from s.3 or s.13 under emergency powers
15. Protection of persons detained under emergency laws
16. Enforcement of protective provisions
17. Interpretation and savings
    Chapter II
    The President

18. Establishment of office
19. Election
20. Qualifictions for nomination
21. Disqualifications for election and holding office
22. Determination of questions as to qualifications
23. Tenure of office
24. Removal from office
25. Procedure for removal from office
26. Oath
27. Protection in respect of legal proceedings
28. Acting President
    Chapter III
    Parliament

    Part 1
    Establishment of Parliament

29. Composition
30. Composition of House of Assembly
31. Qualifications for Representatives and Senators
32. Disqualifications for Representatives and Senators
33. Election of Representatives
34. Appointment or election of Senators
35. Tenure of office of Representatives and Senators
36. Speaker
37. Deputy Speaker
38. Responsibility for elections
39. Clerk of House and his staff
40. Determination of questions of membership
    Part 2
    Legislation and procedure of Parliament

41. Power to make laws
42. Alteration of Constitution and Supreme Court Order
43. Freedom of speech
44. Oath by members
45. Presiding
46. Voting
47. Effect of vacancies, etc.
48. Penalty for sitting if unqualifed
49. Mode of exercise of legislative power
50. Restrictions with regard to certain financial measures
51. Scrutiny of electoral legislation
52. Regulation of procedure in House
    Part 3
    Summoning, prorogation and dissolution

53. Sessions
54. Prorogation and dissolution
55. Holding of elections
    Part 4
    Constituency Boundaries and Electoral Commissions

56. Constituency Boundaries Commission and Electoral Commission
    Part 5
    Delimitation of constituencies

57. Review of constituency boundaries
    Chapter IV
    The Executive

58. Executive authority of Dominica
59. Ministers of the Government
60. Cabinet of Ministers
61. Allocation of portfolios to Ministers
62. Performance of functions of Ministers during absence of illness
63. Exercise of President's functions
64. President to be informed concerning matters of government
65. Oaths to be taken by Ministers, etc.
66. Leader of the Opposition
67. Parliamentary Secretaries
68. Permanent secretaries
69. Secretary to the Cabinet
70. Constitution of offices, etc.
71. Attorney-General
72. Control of public prosecutions
73. Prerogative of mercy
74. Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy
75. Functions of Advisory Committee
    Chapter V
    Finance

76. Consolidated Fund
77. Withdrawls from Consolidated Fund or other public funds
78. Authorisation of expenditure from Consolidated Fund by appropriation law
79. Authorisation of expenditure in advance from appropriation
80. Contingencies Fund
81. Remuneration of certain officers
82. Public debt
83. Audit of public accounts, etc.
    Chapter VI
    The Public Service
    Part 1
    The Public Service Commission

84. Public Service Commission
85. Appointment, etc., of public officers
    Chapter VII
    Citizenship
    Part 2
    Appointment, etc., to particular offices

86. Appointment, etc., of permanent secretaries and certain other officers
87. Chief Elections Officer
88. Director of Public Prosecution
89. Director of Audit
90. Appointment, etc., of magistrates, registrars and legal offices
    Part 3
    The Police

91. Police Service Commission
92. Appointment, etc., of police officers
    Part 4
    The Public Service Board of Appeal

93. Public Service Board of Appeal
94. Appeals in discipline cases
    Part 5
    Pensions

95. Pensions laws and protection of pension rights
96. Power to withhold pensions, etc.
    Chapter VII
    Citizenship

97. Persons who become citizens on 3rd November 1978
98. Persons born in Dominica on or after 3rd November 1978
99. Persons born outside of Dominica on or after 3rd November 1978
100. Registration
101. Acquisition, deprivation and renunciation
102. Interpretation Chapter VIII
     Judicial Provisions

103. Original Jurisdiction of High Court in constitutional questions
104. Reference of constitutional questions to High Court
105. Appeals to Court of Appeal
106. Appeals to Judicial Committee
107. Interpretation Chapter IX
     Parliamentary Commissioner

108. Appointment, etc. of Commissioner
109. Deputy Parliamentary Commissioner and staff
110. Functions of Commissioner
111. Restrictions of matters for investigation
112. Discretion of Commissioner
113. Report on investigation
114. Power to obtain evidence
115. Prescribed matters concerning Comissioner
     Chapter X
     Miscellaneous

116. Declaration of republic
117. Supreme law
118. Functions of President
119. Resignations
120. Re-appointment and concurrent appointments
121. Interpretation
     Schedule 1 to the Constitution
     Alteration of Constitution and Supreme Court Order
     Part I
     Provisions of Constitution referred to in section 42(2)
     Part II
     Provisions of Supreme Court Order referred to in section 42(2)
     Schedule 2 to the Constitution
     Rules concerning constituencies
     Schedule 3 to the Constitution
     Matters not subject to investigation by Parliamentary Commission

Parragraph
1. Election of first President, etc.
2. Existing laws
3. Parliament
4. Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries
5. Office of Attorney-General
6. Existing public officers
7. Oaths
8. Supreme Court Order
9. Appeals Order
10. Judicial Committe
11. Protection from inhuman treatment
12. Protection from deprivation of property
13. Commonwealth citizen
14. Interpretation

• 1978 No. 1030 - The Dominica modifications of Enactments Order 1978
• Schedule - Amendments not Affecting the Law of Dominica
• 1978 No. 1031 - The Dominica Termination of Association Order 1978
• 1978 No. 1521 - The Commonwealth of Dominica Constitution (Amedment) Order 1978