In Papua New Guinea (PNG), laws are made by the Parliament. The legislative branch is unicameral, meaning it consists of a single chamber, the National Parliament. Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by the public during general elections.
The process of making a law typically involves the following steps:
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Proposal: A proposed law, known as a bill, can be introduced by a member of Parliament, either from the government (government bills) or from the opposition (private members' bills).
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Debate: The bill is then debated in Parliament, allowing members to discuss its merits and implications.
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Voting: After the debate, MPs will vote on the bill. If it receives a majority of votes, it progresses to the next stage.
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Approval by the Governor-General: Once passed by Parliament, the bill is sent to the Governor-General for royal assent. Once the Governor-General gives assent, the bill becomes law.
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Promulgation: The law is then published and comes into effect as stipulated within the law itself or by proclamation.
Parliament also has the authority to amend existing laws and repeal outdated or unnecessary legislation. The judiciary in PNG interprets and applies these laws, but it does not create them.