The Rights and Liberties of the Palau Constitution

122 Pages Posted: 12 Jul 2011 Last revised: 7 Dec 2011

See all articles by Kevin Bennardo

Kevin Bennardo

University of North Carolina School of Law

Date Written: October 26, 2010

Abstract

In the nearly thirty years since the Constitution of the Republic of Palau went into effect, the constitutional jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of Palau has grown to such a quantum that allows it to refer primarily to its own case law without the need to look to other jurisdictions for guidance. This article - a mini-treatise of sorts - collects and reviews cases interpreting and applying the Palau Constitution through the sixteenth anniversary of Palau’s independence - October 1, 2010. Not all facets of the Constitution are included; the article focuses on the provisions of the Constitution that most directly affect the people: citizenship, suffrage, right to due process, equal protection of the laws, criminal procedure rights, and the like. Some higher-level administration issues (such as the designation of territory and states and the roles granted to traditional leaders) are included as well, but the focus is on individual rights and liberties. Aside from the text of the Constitution, the constitutional decisions of the Supreme Court of Palau are the most significant guideposts setting forth the meaning of the Constitution. This article analyzes the Supreme Court of Palau’s case law interpreting the Constitution to discern the extent - and limitations - of the rights and liberties granted by the Constitution.

Keywords: Republic of Palau, Constitutional law

Suggested Citation

Bennardo, Kevin, The Rights and Liberties of the Palau Constitution (October 26, 2010). Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal, Vol. 12, No. 2, p. 1, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1883240

Kevin Bennardo (Contact Author)

University of North Carolina School of Law ( email )

Van Hecke-Wettach Hall, 160 Ridge Road
CB #3380
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3380
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
84
Abstract Views
2,097
Rank
533,175
PlumX Metrics