Constitution of Solomon Islands 1978, as amended to 2023
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
  • English

    (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (5), (6) and (9) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.

    (4) In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
    (5) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-

    (f) for the advancement of the more disadvantaged members of the community; or
    (g) where persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection may be subjected to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage which, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
    … (Sec. 15)2

Affirmative Action (Broadly)
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    (1) The Electoral Commission is established.
    (2) The Commission comprises:
    (a) a Chairperson; and
    (b) two othermembers; and
    (c) the Chief Electoral Officer appointed under section 57A.

    (5) At least one member of the Commission must be a woman.
    … (Sec. 57)

Citizenship and Nationality
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    (1) (a) Every person who is immediately before Independence Day an indigenous Solomon Islander shall become a citizen of Solomon Islands on Independence Day.
    (b) Every person who was born in Solomon Islands before Independence Day and who has or had two grandparents who are or were members of a group, tribe or line indigenous to Papua New Guinea or the New Hebrides shall become a citizen of Solomon Islands on Independence Day.
    (2) Every person who before Independence Day has made, or been included in, an application to the Government for citizenship of Solomon Islands containing the information specified in subsection (4) of this section and who at the time of making such application possessed any of the qualifications specified in subsection (3) of this section shall become a citizen of Solomon Islands on Independence Day.
    (3) The qualifications referred to in subsection (2) of this section and subsection (1) of the next following section are that the person concerned, not being an indigenous Solomon Islander, is -
    (a) a woman married to an indigenous Solomon Islander; or
    (b) a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or a British protected person who was born in Solomon Islands; or
    (c) a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or a British protected person having acquired such status under the British Nationality Acts 1948 to 1965(a) by virtue of his having been naturalised or registered under those Acts, or naturalised as a British subject before 1949, by the Governor of the former protectorate of the Solomon Islands; or
    (d) a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or a British protected person whose father possesses, or at his death possessed, one of the qualifications specified in paragraph (b) or (c) or (d) of this subsection; or
    (e) a woman who has been married to a person who possesses, or at his death possesses, one of the qualifications specified in paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of this section; or(f) a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or a British protected person who was deemed to belong to Solomon Islands because such person -
    (i) has lawfully resided in Solomon Islands for any period of seven years during which he has not been absent therefrom for a period or periods amounting in all to more than eighteen months and since the completion of such period of residence has not been ordinarily resident continuously for a period of two years or more in any other territory within the Commonwealth in circumstances in which he has acquired or retained a right of residence in that territory; or
    (ii) is the wife of a person to whom the foregoing subparagraph applies not living apart from such person under a decree of a court or a deed of separation; or
    (iii) is the Child, step-child or child adopted in a manner recognised by law under the age of eighteen years of a person to whom either of the foregoing subparagraphs applies.
    (4) The information required to be contained in an application for the purposes of this section and the next following section is as follows -
    (a) the name, date and place of birth (so far as is known) of the applicant, of any other person included in the application or of a minor on whose behalf the application is made, together with, where applicable, the date of naturalisation or registration;
    (b) a statement by the applicant whether or not he is including in his application his wife and minor children, if any, and in the case of an application including a wife, a statement by her that she consents to her inclusion in the application;
    (c) if the applicant is applying on grounds that his father was born, naturalised or registration in Solomon Islands, also the father's name, place and date of birth (so far as is known) and, if relevant, the date of the father's naturalisation or registration;
    (d) if the application is made by or on behalf of a woman on grounds of marriage to a man who, or whose father, was born, naturalised or registered in Solomon Islands, also the name, place and date of birth (so far as is known) and, if relevant, the date of naturalisation or registration of the man and, if necessary, his father;
    (e) a statement by the applicant that, if he is resident in Solomon Islands at the time of making application, he intends to continue such residence, or that, if he is not so resident at that time, he regards Solomon Islands as his home country;
    (f) a declaration by the applicant of his allegiance to Solomon Islands and his respect for the culture, the language and the way of life of Solomon Islands; and
    (g) a statement by the applicant that he intends to renounce any other nationality that he may hold at the time of making application.
    ... (Sec. 20)
Citizenship and Nationality
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    (1) Every person who immediately before the Independence Day possessed any of the qualifications specified in subsection (3) of the preceding section and who within the prescribed period has made, or been included in, an application to the Government for citizenship of Solomon Islands continuing the information specified in subsection (4) of the preceding section shall be registered as a citizen of Solomon Islands.
    … (Sec. 21)
Citizenship and Nationality
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    Every person born on or after Independence Day, whether within or outside Solomon Islands, shall become a citizen of Solomon Islands at the date of his birth if at that date either of his parents is, or would but for his death have been, a citizen of Solomon Islands. (Sec. 22)
Citizenship and Nationality
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    Parliament may make provision -
    (a) for the acquisition of citizenship of Solomon Islands by persons who are not eligible or who are no longer eligible to become citizens of Solomon Islands by virtue of the provisions of this Chapter;
    (b) for the deprivation and renunciation of citizenship of Solomon Islands held by any person who has attained the age of eighteen years. (Sec. 25)
Citizenship and Nationality
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    (1) In this Chapter –

    "indigenous Solomon Islander" means any person who is or one of whose parents is or was, a British protected person and of a group, tribe or line indigenous to Solomon Islands:
    (2) Any reference in this Chapter to the father of a person shall, in relation to a person born out of wedlock, be construed as a reference to the mother of that person.
    ... (Sec. 26)
Jurisdiction and Access
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    (1) Subject to the provisions of section 31(3) and 98(1) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 to, this Constitution, if any person alleges that any provision of this Constitution (other than Chapter II) has been contravened and that his interests are being or are likely to be affected by such contravention, then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter which is lawfully available, that person may apply to the High Court for a declaration and for relief under this section.
    (2) The High Court shall have jurisdiction, in any application made by any person in pursuance of the preceding subsection or in any other proceedings lawfully brought before the Court, to determine whether any provision of this Constitution (other than Chapter II) has been contravened and to make a declaration accordingly:
    Provided that the High Court shall not make a declaration in pursuance of the jurisdiction conferred by this subsection unless it is satisfied that the interests of the person by whom the application under the preceding subsection is made or, in the case of other proceedings before the Court, a party to those proceedings, are being or are likely to be affected.
    (3) Where the High Court makes a declaration in pursuance of the preceding subsection that any provision of the Constitution has been contravened and the person by whom the application under subsection (1) of this section was made or, in the case of other proceedings before the Court, the party in those proceedings in respect of whom the declaration is made, seeks relief, the High Court may grant to that person such remedy, being a remedy available against any person in any proceedings in the High Court under any law for the time being in force in Solomon Islands, as the Court considers appropriate.
    (4) Nothing in this section shall confer jurisdiction on the High Court to hear or determine any such question as is referred to in Section 52 of this Constitution otherwise than upon an application made in accordance with the provisions of that section. (Sec. 83)

Jurisdiction and Access
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    (1) The High Court shall have jurisdiction to supervise any civil or criminal proceedings before any subordinate court and may make such orders, issue such writs and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for the purpose of ensuring that justice is duly administered by any such court.
    (2) Where any question as to the interpretation of any provision of this Constitution other than Chapter II arises in any subordinate court and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court shall refer the question to the High Court.
    (3) Where any question is referred to the High Court in pursuance of the preceding subsection, the High Court shall give its decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision or, if that decision is the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal, in accordance with the decision of the Court of Appeal. (Sec. 84)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
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    We the people of Solomon Islands, …
    AGREE AND PLEDGE that –

    (b) we shall uphold the principles of equality, social justice and the equitable distribution of incomes;
    … (Preamble)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
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    Whereas every person in Solomon Islands is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely:-
    (a) ... the protection of the law;
    … (Sec. 3)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
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    (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (5), (6) and (9) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
    (2) Subject to the provisions of subsections (7), (8) and (9) of this section, no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or performance of the function of any public office or any public authority.
    (3) Subject to the provision of subsection (9) of this section, no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner in respect of access to shops, hotels, lodging-houses, public restaurants, eating-houses or places of public entertainment or in respect of access to places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of public funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.
    (4) In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
    (5) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-

    (c) for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection (or of persons connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other like matters that is the personal law applicable to persons of that description;
    (d) for the application of customary law;
    (e) with respect to land, the tenure of land, the resumption and acquisition of land and other like purposes;
    (f) for the advancement of the more disadvantaged members of the community; or
    (g) where persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection may be subjected to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage which, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
    (6) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1) of this section to the extent that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualification specifically relating to race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex) to be required of any person who is appointed to any office in the public service, any office in a disciplined force, any office in the service of the government of Honiara city or any provincial government or any office in a body corporate established directly by any law for public purposes, or who wishes to engage in any trade or business.
    (7) Subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorised to be done by any such provision of law as is referred to in subsection (5) or (6) of this section.
    (8) Subsection (2) of this section shall not affect any discretion relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of civil or criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by or under this Constitution or any other law.
    (9) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (4) of this section may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by section 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of this Constitution, being such a restriction as is authorised by section 9(2), 11(6), 12(2), 13(2) or 14(3), as the case may be. (Sec. 15)3

Obligations of the State
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    Whereas every person in Solomon Islands is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest
    ... (Sec. 3)

Obligations of the State
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    Any person any of whose rights or freedoms under this Chapter has been contravened shall be entitled to compensation for the contravention thereof from the person or authority which contravened it. (Sec. 17)
Obligations of Private Parties
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    Whereas every person in Solomon Islands is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest
    ... (Sec. 3)
Judicial Protection
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    (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (6) of this section, if any person alleges that any of the provisions of sections 3 to 164 (inclusive) of this Constitution has been, is being or is likely to be contravened in relation to him (or, in the case of a person who is detained, if any other person alleges such a contravention in relation to the detained person) then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter which is lawfully available, that person (or that other person) may apply to the High Court for redress.
    (2) The High Court shall have original jurisdiction-
    (a) to hear and determine any application made by any person in pursuance of the preceding subsection;
    (b) to determine any question arising in the case of any person which is referred to it in pursuance of the next following subsection, and may make such orders, issue such writs and give such directions, including the payment of compensation, as it may consider appropriate for the purpose of enforcing or securing the enforcement of any of the provisions of sections 3 to 16 (inclusive) of this Constitution:
    Provided that the High Court may decline to exercise its powers under this subsection if it is satisfied that adequate means of redress for the contravention alleged are or have been available to the person concerned under any other law.
    (3) If in any proceedings in any subordinate court any question arises as to the contravention of any of the provisions of sections 3 to 16 (inclusive) of this Constitution, the person presiding in that court may, and shall if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the High Court unless, in his opinion, the raising of the question is merely frivolous or vexatious.
    (4) Any person aggrieved by any determination of the High Court under this section may appeal therefrom to the Court of Appeal:
    Provided that no appeal shall lie from a determination of the High Court under this section dismissing an application on the ground that it is frivolous or vexatious.
    (5) Parliament may confer upon the High Court powers additional to those conferred by this section for the purpose of enabling that court more effectively to exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by this section.
    (6) Rules of court making provision with respect to the practise and procedure of the High Court in relation to the jurisdiction conferred on it by or under this section (including rules with respect to the time within which any application or reference shall or may be made or brought) may be made by the person or authority for the time being having power to make rules of court with respect to the practice and procedure of that court generally. (Sec. 18)

National Human Rights Bodies
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    (1) There shall be an Ombudsman, whose office shall be a public office.
    (2) The Ombudsman shall be appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of a committee consisting of the Speaker, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and the Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
    … (Sec. 96)
National Human Rights Bodies
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    (1) The functions of the Ombudsman shall be to:-
    (a) enquire into the conduct of any person to whom this section applies in the exercise of his office or authority, or abuse thereof;
    (b) assist in the improvement of the practices and procedures of public bodies; and
    (c) ensure the elimination of arbitrary and unfair decisions.
    (2) Parliament may confer additional functions on the Ombudsman.
    (3) This section applies to members of the public service, the Police Force, the Prisons Service, the government of Honiara city, provincial governments, and such other offices, commissions, corporate bodies or public agencies as may be prescribed by Parliament:
    Provided that it shall not apply to the Governor-General or his personal staff or to the Director of Public Prosecutions or any person acting in accordance with his instructions.
    (4) Nothing in this section or in any Act of Parliament enacted for the purposes of this Chapter shall confer on the Ombudsman any power to question or review any decision of any judge, magistrate or registrar in the exercise of his judicial functions. (Sec. 97)
Limitations and/or Derogations
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    Whereas every person in Solomon Islands is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest,
    ...
    the provisions of this Chapter shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection of those rights and freedoms subject to such limitations of that protection as are contained in those provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said rights and freedoms by an individual does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others or the public interest. (Sec. 3)

Limitations and/or Derogations
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    ...
    (7) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of section 5, 6(2), 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 of this Constitution to the extent that the law in question makes in relation to any period of public emergency provision, or authorises the doing during any such period of any thing, that is reasonably justifiable in circumstances of any situation arising or existing during the period for the purpose of dealing with that situation.
    … (Sec. 16)
Marriage and Family Life
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    (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (5), (6) and (9) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.

    (4) In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
    (5) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-

    (c) for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection (or of persons connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other like matters that is the personal law applicable to persons of that description;
    … (Sec. 15)5

Participation in Public Life and Institutions
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    We the people of Solomon Islands, …
    AGREE AND PLEDGE that –

    (e) we shall ensure the participation of our people in the governance of their affairs and provide within the framework of our national unity for the decentralisation of power;
    … (Preamble)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
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    (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (5), (6) and (9) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.

    (4) In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.

    (6) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1) of this section to the extent that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualification specifically relating to race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex) to be required of any person who is appointed to any office in the public service, any office in a disciplined force, any office in the service of the government of Honiara city or any provincial government or any office in a body corporate established directly by any law for public purposes, or who wishes to engage in any trade or business.
    … (Sec. 15)6

Political Rights and Association
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    We the people of Solomon Islands, …
    AGREE AND PLEDGE that -
    (a) our government shall be based on democratic principles of universal suffrage and the responsibility of executive authorities to elected assemblies;
    … (Preamble)
Political Rights and Association
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    Whereas every person in Solomon Islands is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely:-

    (b) freedom of conscience of expression and of assembly and association;
    … (Sec. 3)
Political Rights and Association
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    (1) Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of assembly and association, that is to say, his right to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to political parties or to form or belong to trade unions or other associations for the protection of his interests.
    … (Sec. 13)
Political Rights and Association
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    (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a person shall be entitled to be registered as an elector if, and shall not be so entitled unless -
    (a) he is a citizen of Solomon Islands; and
    (b) he has attained the age of eighteen years.
    ... (Sec. 55)
Political Rights and Association
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    (1) Any person who is registered as an elector in any constituency shall be entitled to vote in such manner as may be prescribed at any election for that constituency
    … (Sec. 56)

Electoral Bodies
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    (1) The Electoral Commission is established.
    (2) The Commission comprises:
    (a) a Chairperson; and
    (b) two othermembers; and
    (c) the Chief Electoral Officer appointed under section 57A.

    (5) At least one member of the Commission must be a woman.
    … (Sec. 57)

Electoral Bodies
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    (1) The Electoral Commission shall have general responsibility for, and shall supervise, the registration of electors for the election of members of Parliament and the conduct of elections of such members and the Commission shall have such powers and other functions relating to such registration and such elections as may be prescribed.
    ... (Sec. 58)
Head of State
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    (2) Her Majesty shall be the Head of State of Solomon Islands. (Sec. 1)
Head of State
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    (1) There shall be a Governor-General of Solomon Islands who shall be appointed by the Head of State in accordance with an address from Parliament and who shall be the representative of the Head of State in Solomon Islands.
    (2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment to the office of Governor-General unless he is qualified for election as a member of Parliament under Chapter VI of this Constitution.
    ... (Sec. 27)
Government
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    (1) There shall be a Prime Minister who shall be elected as such by the members of Parliament from amongst their number in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 2 to this Constitution.
    (2) There shall be, in addition to the office of Prime Minister, such other offices of Minister of the Government, not exceeding eleven or such greater number as Parliament may prescribe, as may be established by the Governor General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister. Provided that one of such offices of Minister of the Government shall be that of Deputy Prime Minister.
    (3) The Ministers other than the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, from among the members of Parliament: Provided that if occasion arises for making an appointment while Parliament is dissolved a person who was a member of Parliament immediately before the dissolution may be appointed. (Sec. 33)
Government
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    (1) There shall be a Cabinet for Solomon Islands, consisting of the Prime Minister and the other Ministers.
    (2) The functions of the Cabinet shall be to advise the Governor-General in the government of Solomon Islands and the Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to Parliament for any advice given to the Governor-General by or under the general authority of the Cabinet and for all things done by or under the authority of any Minister in the execution of his office.
    … (Sec. 35)
Legislature
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    There shall be a national legislature for Solomon Islands, which shall consist of a single chamber and shall be known as the National Parliament of Solomon Islands. (Sec. 46)
Legislature
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    (1) Parliament shall consist of persons elected in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and, subject thereto, in such manner as may be prescribed.
    (2) Each of the constituencies prescribed under section 54(1) of this Constitution shall return one member of Parliament. (Sec. 47)
Legislature
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    Subject to the provisions of the next following section, a person shall be qualified for election as a member of Parliament if, and shall not be so qualified unless -
    (a) he is a citizen of Solomon Islands; and
    (b) he has attained the age of twenty-one years; and
    (c) he is registered as an elector, as prescribed by Parliament. (Sec. 48)

Legislature
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    (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Parliament may make laws for the peace, order and good government of Solomon Islands.
    … (Sec. 59)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    Whereas every person in Solomon Islands is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely:-

    (c) protection for the privacy of his home and other property and from deprivation of property without compensation,
    … (Sec. 3)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (5), (6) and (9) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.

    (4) In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
    (5) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-

    (c) for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection (or of persons connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other like matters that is the personal law applicable to persons of that description;

    (e) with respect to land, the tenure of land, the resumption and acquisition of land and other like purposes;
    … (Sec. 15)7

Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    The right to hold or acquire a perpetual interest in land shall vest in any person who is a Solomon Islander and only in such other person or persons as may be prescribed by Parliament. (Sec. 110)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    Parliament may, in regard to land which has ceased to be customary land:—
    (a) provide for the conversion into a fixed-term interest of any perpetual interest in such land held by a person who is not entitled under the preceding section to hold such a perpetual interest;
    (b) provide for the compulsory acquisition where necessary of such land or any right over or interest in such land;
    (c) prescribe the criteria to be adopted in regard to the assessment and payment of compensation for such conversion or compulsory acquisition (which may take account of, but need not be limited to, the following factors: the purchase price, the value of improvements made between the date of purchase and the date of acquisition, the current use value of the land, and the fact of its abandonment or dereliction). (Sec. 111)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    Parliament shall provide, in relation to any compulsory acquisition of customary land or any right over or interest in it, that:-
    (a) before such land is compulsorily acquired, there shall be prior negotiations with the owner of the land, right or interest;
    (b) the owner shall have a right of access to independent legal advice; and
    (c) so far as practicable the interest so acquired shall be limited to a fixed-term interest. (Sec. 112)
Protection from Violence
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    Whereas every person in Solomon Islands is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely:-
    (a) life, liberty, security of the person and the protection of the law;
    … (Sec. 3)
Protection from Violence
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    (1) No person shall be held in slavery or servitude.
    (2) No person shall be required to perform forced labour.
    ... (Sec. 6)
Protection from Violence
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    No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment. (Sec. 7)
Public Institutions and Services
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    We the people of Solomon Islands, …
    AGREE AND PLEDGE that –

    (b) we shall uphold the principles of equality, social justice and the equitable distribution of incomes;
    … (Preamble)
Public Institutions and Services
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    (1) Subject to the provisions of section 132 of this Constitution, the law applicable to the grant and payment to any officer, or to his widow, children, dependants or personal representatives, of any pension, gratuity or other like allowance (in this section and in sections 131 and 132 of this Constitution referred to as an "award") in respect of the service of that officer in a public office shall be that in force on the relevant day or any later law not less favourable to the person concerned.
    … (Sec. 130)
Public Institutions and Services
  • English
    (1) The power to grant any award under any pensions law for the time being in force in Solomon Islands (other than an award to which, under that law, the person to whom it is payable is entitled as of right) and, in accordance with any provisions in that behalf in any such law, to withhold, reduce in amount or suspend any award payable under any such law shall vest in the Governor-General.

    (3) In this section, "pensions law" means any law relating to the grant to any person, or to the widow, children, dependants or personal representatives of that person, of an award in respect of the services of that person in a public office. (Sec. 132)
Status of the Constitution
  • English
    This Constitution is the supreme law of Solomon Islands and if any other law is inconsistent with this Constitution, that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. (Sec. 2)
Status of the Constitution
  • English
    (1) Subject to this paragraph, the principles and rules of the common law and equity shall have effect as part of the law of Solomon Islands, save in so far as:-
    (a) they are inconsistent with this Constitution or any Act of Parliament;
    … (Schedule 3, Sec. 2)
Status of the Constitution
  • English
    (1) Subject to this paragraph, customary law shall have effect as part of the law of Solomon Islands.
    (2) The preceding subparagraph shall not apply in respect of any customary law that is, and to the extent that it is, inconsistent with this Constitution or an Act of Parliament.
    … (Schedule 3, Sec. 3)
Customary Law
  • English
    We the people of Solomon Islands, proud of the wisdom and the worthy customs of our ancestors, mindful of our common and diverse heritage and conscious of our common destiny, do now, under the guiding hand of God, establish the sovereign democratic State of Solomon Islands; …
    Agree and pledge that –
    ...
    (d) we shall cherish and promote the different cultural traditions within Solomon Islands;
    ... (Preamble)
Customary Law
  • English

    (1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (5), (6) and (9) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.

    (4) In this section, the expression "discriminatory" means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
    (5) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-

    (c) for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection (or of persons connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other like matters that is the personal law applicable to persons of that description;
    (d) for the application of customary law;
    … (Sec. 15)8

Customary Law
  • English
    (1) Parliament shall make provision for the application of laws, including customary laws.
    (2) In making provision under this section, Parliament shall have particular regard to the customs, values and aspirations of the people of Solomon Islands. (Sec. 75)
Customary Law
  • English
    Until Parliament makes other provision under the preceding section, the provisions of Schedule 3 to this Constitution shall have effect for the purpose of determining the operation in Solomon Islands -
    (a) of certain Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom mentioned therein;
    (b) of the principles and rules of the common law and equity;
    (c) of customary law; and
    (d) of the legal doctrine of judicial precedent. (Sec. 76)
Customary Law
  • English
    (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Solomon Islands Independence Order 1978(a) Solomon Islands shall be divided into Honiara city and provinces.
    (2) Parliament shall by law -
    ...
    (b) make provision for the government of Honiara city and the provinces and consider the role of traditional chiefs in the provinces. (Sec. 114)
Customary Law
  • English
    (1) In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires—

    “customary law” means the rules of customary law prevailing in an area of Solomon Islands;
    … (Sec. 144)
Customary Law
  • English
    (1) Subject to this paragraph, the principles and rules of the common law and equity shall have effect as part of the law of Solomon Islands, save in so far as:-

    (c) in their application to any particular matter, they are inconsistent with customary law applying in respect of that matter.
    … (Schedule 3, Sec. 2)
Customary Law
  • English
    (1) Subject to this paragraph, customary law shall have effect as part of the law of Solomon Islands.
    (2) The preceding subparagraph shall not apply in respect of any customary law that is, and to the extent that it is, inconsistent with this Constitution or an Act of Parliament.
    (3) An Act of Parliament may:-
    (a) provide for the proof and pleading of customary law for any purpose;
    (b) regulate the manner in which or the purposes for which customary law may be recognised; and
    (c) provide for the resolution of conflicts of customary law.
    … (Schedule 3, Sec. 3)
1

Constitution of Solomon Islands 1978, as amended to 2018 (English); 2022 Amendment to the Constitution (English); 2023 Amendment to the Constitution (English). The most recent consolidated version of the Constitution does not reflect correctly Section 15, which was not amended since the Constitution's adoption in 1978. For section 15, please refer to the Constitution of Solomon Islands 1978 (English).

Links to all sites last visited 27 November 2023
2

The most recent consolidated version of the Constitution does not reflect correctly Section 15, which was not amended since the Constitution's adoption in 1978. For section 15, please refer to the 1978 Constitution.

3

The most recent consolidated version of the Constitution does not reflect correctly Section 15, which was not amended since the Constitution's adoption in 1978. For section 15, please refer to the 1978 Constitution.

4

Sections 3 to 16 are part of Chapter II on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individuals.

5

The most recent consolidated version of the Constitution does not reflect correctly Section 15, which was not amended since the Constitution's adoption in 1978. For section 15, please refer to the 1978 Constitution.

6

The most recent consolidated version of the Constitution does not reflect correctly Section 15, which was not amended since the Constitution's adoption in 1978. For section 15, please refer to the 1978 Constitution.

7

The most recent consolidated version of the Constitution does not reflect correctly Section 15, which was not amended since the Constitution's adoption in 1978. For section 15, please refer to the 1978 Constitution.

8

The most recent consolidated version of the Constitution does not reflect correctly Section 15, which was not amended since the Constitution's adoption in 1978. For section 15, please refer to the 1978 Constitution.