Lao People’s Democratic Republic

The people are to elect representatives, namely the National Assembly and Local People's Assemblies, to ensure that their rights, powers and benefits are addressed.The election of members of the National Assembly shall be carried out through the principles of universal equal direct suffrage and secret balloting.
… (Art. 4)

The Lao Front for National Development, the Lao Veterans Federation, the Lao Federation of Trade Unions, the Lao Women's Union, the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union and other social organisations are the organs to unite and mobilise all strata of the multi-ethnic people to take part in the tasks of protection and construction of the country; to develop the right of self- determination of the people and to protect the legitimate rights and interests of members of their respective organisations. (Art. 7)

Lao citizens aged eighteen years and above have the right to vote and those aged twenty one years and above have the right to be elected, except insane persons, persons with mental disorders and persons whose rights to vote and to be elected have been revoked by a court. (Art. 36)

Citizens of both women and men enjoy equal rights in the political, economic, cultural and social fields and in family affairs. (Art. 37)

Lao citizens have the right and freedom of speech, press and assembly; and have the right to set up associations and to stage demonstrations which are not contrary to the laws. (Art. 44)

The rights of the multi-ethnic people to be the masters of the country are exercised and ensured through the functioning of the political system with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as its leading nucleus. (Art. 3)

The President of the State is the Head of State of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the representative of the multi-ethnic Lao people both within the country and abroad; The President of the State is also the head of national defence and national security, the general of the armed civilian army for independent protection, democracy, defending the homeland and securing peace and stability of the nation. (Art. 65)

The President of the State is elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds of the votes of all members of the National Assembly attending the session.
… (Art. 66)

The President of the State have a Vice-President as elected by the National Assembly with the votes of more than two-third of the number of National Assembly members attending the session.
The Vice-President of the State executes all tasks assigned by the President of the State and acts on behalf of the President of the State in case the President is occupied on other matters. (Art. 68)

The government is the executive branch, which has the role of managing the State uniformly throughout the country.
The government is responsible for the National Assembly and the President of the State. (Art. 69)

The government consists of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister[s], ministers and chairmen of the ministry-equivalent organisations.
… (Art. 71)

The Prime Minister is the head of the government, and represents the government in leading and managing the work of the government and local administration organisations; having rights to appoint, transfer, or remove the deputy- minister, the deputy head of ministry-equivalent, head of bureau office, deputy head of bureau, head of department; appoint or remove provincial governor, Vientiane Capital Governor, upon the approval of the provincial assembly meeting, propose the rewarding or degrading high rank of generals, promoting or demoting colonels of the national defence and security. (Art. 72)

The Deputy Prime Ministers are the assistants of the Prime Minister to lead onmatters of the government and local administrative organizations and execute the tasks assigned to them by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister assigns a particular Deputy Prime Minister to carry out work on his behalf in the event that he is [occupied on other matters]. (Art. 73)

…
The election of members of the National Assembly and the Local People'sAssemblies shall be carried out through the principles of universal equal direct suffrage and secret balloting.
… (Art. 4)

The National Assembly is the representative of the rights and interests of the Lao multi-ethnic people. The National Assembly is the supreme authority of the state. The National Assembly is the legislative body to perform the role to adopt the Constitution and laws, make decisions on fundamental issues of the country and to monitor the implementation of the Constitution and laws by the State organizations. (Art. 52)

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Members of the National Assembly are elected by the Lao citizens in accordance with the laws.
... (Art. 54)