Editing Politics of Cambodia (section)

== Legal framework ==
Cambodia is a [[constitutional monarchy]] with a [[Unitary state|unitary]] structure<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.adb.org/publications/deconcentration-and-decentralization-reforms-cambodia-recommendations-institutional|title=Deconcentration and Decentralization Reforms in Cambodia: Recommendations for an Institutional Framework|last=Niazi|first=Tariq H.|date=2011-06-01|publisher=Asian Development Bank|isbn=9789290922650|pages=74|language=en}}</ref> and a [[Representative democracy|parliamentary]] form of government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/186476.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/186476.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Country Reports for Human Rights Practices for 2011|last=US State Department|date=2011|website=state.gov}}</ref> The constitution, which prescribes the governing framework, was promulgated in September 1993 by the [[Cambodia Constituent Assembly|Constituent Assembly]] that resulted from the [[1993 Cambodian general election|1993 general election]] conducted under the auspices of the [[United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia]] (UNTAC). The assembly adopted the basic principles and measures mandated under the [[1991 Paris Peace Agreements|Paris Peace Agreements]] into the text of the constitution. Assimilated into the governing charter, these provisions place the constitution as the supreme law of the land; declare Cambodia's status as a sovereign, independent and neutral state; enshrine a liberal, multi-party democracy with fair and periodic elections; guarantee respect for human rights; and provide for an independent judiciary.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cambodia.org/facts/?page=1991+Paris+Peace+Agreements|title=1991 Paris Peace Agreements - Government, Constitution, National Anthem and Facts of Cambodia|website=Cambodia Information Center|access-date=2019-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923163627/http://www.cambodia.org/facts/?page=1991+Paris+Peace+Agreements|archive-date=2014-09-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The brutality of the [[Democratic Kampuchea]] regime had especially necessitated the inclusion of provisions concerning human rights<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Ratner|first=Steven R.|date=1993|title=The Cambodia Settlement Agreements|journal=The American Journal of International Law|volume=87|issue=1|pages=25–28|doi=10.2307/2203851|issn=0002-9300|jstor=2203851}}</ref> in order to prevent a return to the policies and practices of the past.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Cambodia-20yearsonfromtheParisPeace.aspx|title=OHCHR {{!}} Cambodia - 20 years on from the Paris Peace Agreements|website=www.ohchr.org|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref> These criteria had been drawn from the Namibian constitution drafting process that took place in 1982.<ref name=":1" /> German constitutional law scholar, [[W:de:Jörg Menzel|Jörg Menzel]], characterized these benchmarks as the "necessary nucleus of a modern constitutional state."<ref>Menzel, Jörg. Cambodia from Civil War to a Constitution to Constitutionalism? Hor Peng et al. ''Cambodian Constitutional Law'' pp. 16-17</ref> The constitution further sanctifies the status of international law in the issue of human rights by binding Cambodia to "respect" the provisions of human rights treaties adopted by the UN.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://harvard-yenching.org/features/hyi-working-paper-series-kuong-teilee-0|title=Cambodian Constitutional Provisions on Treaties: A Story of Constitutional Evolution Beyond Rhetoric|last=Kuong|first=Teilee|website=Harvard Yenching Institute|access-date=2019-04-01|archive-date=2019-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401214602/https://harvard-yenching.org/features/hyi-working-paper-series-kuong-teilee-0|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 1993 constitution has been amended eight times since its passage – in 1994, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2014<ref>Hor Peng. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia: The Evolution of Constitutional Theories and Interpretation. Hor Peng et al. ''Cambodian Constitutional Law''. p. 47</ref> and 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/lese-majeste-law-now-effect|title=Lèse majesté law now in effect, National, Politics, Phnom Penh Post|last1=Chheng|first1=Niem|last2=Nachemson|first2=Andrew|date=5 March 2018|website=www.phnompenhpost.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02}}</ref>

=== Separation of powers ===
The powers are devolved to three branches of the state: the [[Parliament of Cambodia|legislature]], the executive and the judiciary, in recognition of the doctrine of [[separation of powers]]. [[Westphalian sovereignty|Political sovereignty]] rests with the Cambodian people, who exercise their power through the three arms of the state. The Royal Government, which wields executive power, is directly responsible to the [[National Assembly of Cambodia|National Assembly]]. The judiciary, which is an independent power, is tasked with the protection of citizens' rights and liberties.<ref>Hor Peng. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia: The Evolution of Constitutional Theories and Interpretation. Hor Peng et al. ''Cambodian Constitutional Law''. p. 45</ref> Buddhism is proclaimed as the state religion.<ref>Kong Phallack. Freedom of Religion in Cambodia. Hor Peng et al. ''Cambodian Constitutional Law''. p. 393</ref>

=== Influences on legal system ===
The legal system of Cambodia is [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] and has been strongly influenced by the [[Law of France|legal heritage]] of France as a consequence of [[French Protectorate of Cambodia|colonial rule]].<ref>Menzel, Jörg. Cambodia from Civil War to a Constitution to Constitutionalism? Hor Peng et al. ''Cambodian Constitutional Law'' p. 31<br /></ref> The [[Socialist law|Soviet-Vietnamese system]] dominated the country from 1981 until 1989, and Sri Lankan jurist [[Basil Fernando]] argues that its elements are present in the current system as well.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/461500|title=Problems facing the Cambodian legal system|last1=Fernando|first1=Basil|last2=Kirby|first2=M. D.|date=1998|publisher=Asian Human Rights Commission|others=Asian Human Rights Commission|isbn=9789628314027|location=Hong Kong, China|pages=vi}}</ref> The role of [[customary law]], based on Buddhist beliefs and unwritten law drawn from the [[Angkor|Angkorean period]], is also prevalent.<ref>Kong Phallack. Overview of the Cambodian Legal and Judicial System and Recent Efforts at Legal and Judicial Reform. Hor Peng et al. ''Introduction to Cambodian Law''. pp. 7-8</ref><ref>Hor Peng. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia: The Evolution of Constitutional Theories and Interpretation. Hor Peng et al. ''Cambodian Constitutional Law''. pp. 44-45</ref>

=== Market economy ===
The constitution contains a commitment to the "market economy system", which along with accompanying provisions effects a fundamental change in the role of the state from the past.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=St John|first=Ronald Bruce|date=1995|title=The Political Economy of the Royal Government of Cambodia|journal=Contemporary Southeast Asia|volume=17|issue=3|pages=266–269|issn=0129-797X|jstor=25798289}}</ref> Security of private property and the right to sell and exchange freely, necessary conditions for the functioning of the market economy,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ear|first=Sophal|date=1995|title=Cambodia's Economic Development in Historical Perspective: A Contribution to the Study of Cambodia's Economy|url=https://www.academia.edu/2336758|language=en|page=82}}</ref> are provided for. The state's powers of expropriation are limited to the extent they serve public interest, to be exercised only when "fair and just" compensation is made in advance.<ref>Kuong Teilee. Economic Rights and the National Economic System. Hor Peng et al. ''Cambodian Constitutional Law''. p. 498</ref> Operating under the slogan ''Le Cambodge s'aide lui-même'' or "Cambodia will help itself", one of the earliest undertakings of the Royal Government was to implement programs to ensure the economic rehabilitation of Cambodia and its integration in the regional and global economies. On 10 March 1994, the Royal Government declared an "irreversible and irrevocable" move away from a centrally-planned economy towards a market-oriented economy.<ref name=":2" />