The Constitution of
St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

• PREAMBLE

  • 1. Application of this Constitution

• CHAPTER 1

  St Helena

  • Part 1

    Partnership Values

    • 2. The partnership values

    • 3. Relationships between St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

    • 4. Duty to give effect to the partnership values

  • Part 2

    Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual

    • 5. Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual

    • 6. Protection of right to life

    • 7. Protection from inhuman treatment

    • 8. Protection from slavery and forced labour

    • 9. Protection of right to personal liberty

    • 10. Provisions to secure a fair trial

    • 11. Protection of right of prisoners to humane treatment

    • 12. Protection of freedom of movement

    • 13. Protection for private and family life and for privacy of home and other property

    • 14. Protection of right to marry, and of spouses’ and children’s rights

    • 15. Protection of freedom of conscience

    • 16. Protection of right to education

    • 17. Protection of freedom of expression

    • 18. Protection of freedom of assembly and association

    • 19. Protection from deprivation of property

    • 20. Protection from arbitrary deprivation of St Helenian status or of British citizenship

    • 21. Protection from discrimination

    • 22. Derogations from fundamental rights and freedoms under emergency powers

    • 23. Protection of persons detained under emergency laws

    • 24. Enforcement of protective provisions

    • 25. Application of this Part to the members of a disciplined force

  • Part 3

    The Governor

    • 26. The Governor

    • 27. Acting Governor

    • 28. Governor’s Deputy

    • 29. Powers of pardon, etc.

    • 30. Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy

    • 31. Powers to dispose of land

    • 32. Public seal

    • 33. Constitution of offices

  • Part 4

    The Executive

    • 34. Executive authority

    • 35. Executive Council

    • 36. Election of elected members of Executive Council

    • 37. Tenure of office of elected and temporary members of Executive Council

    • 38. Determination of questions as to membership of Executive Council

    • 39. Summoning of and proceedings in Executive Council

    • 40. Invitation of persons to assist Executive Council

    • 41. Presiding in Executive Council

    • 42. The Clerk of Councils

    • 43. Governor to consult Executive Council

    • 44. Governor’s special responsibilities

    • 45. Governor to be kept informed

    • 46. The Attorney General

  • Part 5

    The Legislature

    • Composition

      • 47. The Legislature

      • 48. Composition of Legislative Council

      • 49. Qualifications of candidates for election to Legislative Council

      • 50. Law as to elections

      • 51. Tenure of office of Elected Members of Legislative Council

      • 52. Determination of questions as to elected membership of Legislative Council

      • 53. Register of Interests

      • 54. Oaths or affirmations by Members of Legislative Council

      • 55. Speaker and Deputy Speaker

    • Council Committees

      • 56. Council Committees

      • 57. Tenure of office of members of Council Committees

      • 58. Functions of Council Committees

      • 59. Rules of procedure and meetings of Council Committees

    • Powers and Procedure of Legislative Council

      • 60. Power to make laws

      • 61. Meetings of Legislative Council

      • 62. Presiding in Legislative Council or otherwise discharging the functions of Speaker

      • 63. Legislative Council may transact business notwithstanding vacancies

      • 64. Quorum

      • 65. Governor’s right to address Legislative Council

      • 66. Power to require officers of the St Helena Public Service to attend meetings

      • 67. Voting

      • 68. Standing Orders

      • 69. Public Accounts Committee

      • 70. Privileges

      • 71. Code of Conduct

      • 72. Remuneration of elected members of Executive Council, other Elected Members of Legislative Council, Speaker and Deputy Speaker

      • 73. Introduction of Bills

      • 74. Assent to Bills

      • 75. Disallowance of laws

      • 76. Dissolution of Legislative Council

      • 77. Recalling dissolved Legislative Council in case of emergency

      • 78. General elections and bye-elections

      • 79. The Clerk of Councils

  • Part 6

    The Administration of Justice

    • 80. The Courts of St Helena

    • 81. Independence of the judiciary

    • Supreme Court

      • 82. Constitution of Supreme Court

      • 83. Sittings of Supreme Court

      • 84. Judges of Supreme Court

      • 85. Exercise of jurisdiction of Supreme Court

    • Court of Appeal

      • 86. Constitution of Court of Appeal

      • 87. Jurisdiction of Court of Appeal

      • 88. Practice and procedure on appeals

    • General

      • 89. Rules of Court

      • 90. Appointment of judges and judicial officers

      • 91. Tenure of office of judges and judicial officers

      • 92. Remuneration

      • 93. Removal from office

      • 94. Judicial Service Commission

  • Part 7

    Public Service

    • 95. Appointment etc of officers of St Helena Public Service

    • 96. Terms and conditions of employment

  • Part 8

    Public Finance

    • 97. Taxation

    • 98. Consolidated Fund

    • 99. Withdrawal from Consolidated Fund or other public account

    • 100. Annual Estimates

    • 101. Appropriation Bill

    • 102. Authorisation of expenditure in advance of appropriation

    • 103. Special Warrants

    • 104. Withdrawal Warrants

    • 105. Supplementary Estimates

    • 106. Excess expenditure

    • 107. Lapse of appropriations

    • 108. Public debt

    • 109. Annual statement of accounts

    • 110. The Chief Auditor

    • 111. Functions of Chief Auditor

    • 112. Borrowing or lending by Government of St Helena

  • Part 9

    Complaints Commissioner

    • 113. Complaints Commissioner

    • 114. Functions of Complaints Commissioner

  • Part 10

    Miscellaneous

    • 115. Interpretation

    • 116. References to the holder of an office to include a person acting in the office

    • 117. Power to amend and revoke instruments, etc

    • 118. Appointments

    • 119. Removal from office

    • 120. Resignations

• CHAPTER 2

  Ascension

  • Part 1

    Partnership Values

    • 121. The partnership values

  • Part 2

    Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual

    • 122. Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual

    • 123. Protection of right to life

    • 124. Protection from inhuman treatment

    • 125. Protection from slavery and forced labour

    • 126. Protection of right to personal liberty

    • 127. Provisions to secure a fair trial

    • 128. Protection of right of prisoners to humane treatment

    • 129. Protection for private and family life and for privacy of home and other property

    • 130. Protection of right to marry, and of spouses’ and children’s rights

    • 131. Protection of freedom of conscience

    • 132. Protection of right to education

    • 133. Protection of freedom of expression

    • 134. Protection of freedom of assembly and association

    • 135. Protection from deprivation of property

    • 136. Protection from arbitrary deprivation of St Helenian status or of British citizenship

    • 137. Protection from discrimination

    • 138. Derogations from fundamental rights and freedoms under emergency powers

    • 139. Protection of persons detained under emergency laws

    • 140. Enforcement of protective provisions

    • 141. Application of this Part to the members of a disciplined force

    • 142. Saving for certain treaties

  • Part 3

    The Governor

    • 143. The Governor

    • 144. Powers of pardon, etc

    • 145. Powers to dispose of land

    • 146. Public seal

    • 147. Constitution of offices

  • Part 4

    The Executive

    • 148. Executive authority

    • 149. Island Council

    • 150. Attorney General

  • Part 5

    The Legislature

    • 151. Power to make laws

    • 152. Disallowance of laws

  • Part 6

    The Administration of Justice

    • 153. The Courts of Ascension

    • 154. Independence of the judiciary

    • 155. Jurisdiction of Supreme Court

    • 156. Sittings of Supreme Court

    • 157. Exercise of jurisdiction of Supreme Court

    • 158. Jurisdiction of Court of Appeal

    • 159. Practice and procedure on appeals

    • 160. Rules of Court

    • 161. Judicial officers

    • 162. Ascension Judicial Service Commission

  • Part 7

    Public Service

    • 163. Appointment etc of officers of Ascension Public Service

    • 164. Terms and conditions of employment

  • Part 8

    Public Finance

    • 165. Taxation

    • 166. Consolidated Fund

    • 167. Withdrawal from Consolidated Fund or other public account

    • 168. Annual Estimates

    • 169. Draft Appropriation Ordinance

    • 170. Authorisation of expenditure in advance of appropriation

    • 171. Special Warrants

    • 172. Withdrawal Warrants

    • 173. Supplementary Estimates

    • 174. Excess expenditure

    • 175. Lapse of appropriations

    • 176. Public debt

    • 177. Annual statement of accounts

    • 178. Audit

    • 179. Borrowing or lending by Government of Ascension

  • Part 9

    Miscellaneous

    • 180. Interpretation

    • 181. References to the holder of an office to include a person acting in the office

    • 182. Power to amend and revoke instruments, etc

    • 183. Appointments

    • 184. Removal from office

    • 185. Resignations

• CHAPTER 3

  Tristan Da Cunha

  • Part 1

    Partnership Values

    • 186. The partnership values

  • Part 2

    Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual

    • 187. Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual

    • 188. Protection of right to life

    • 189. Protection from inhuman treatment

    • 190. Protection from slavery and forced labour

    • 191. Protection of right to personal liberty

    • 192. Provisions to secure a fair trial

    • 193. Protection of right of prisoners to humane treatment

    • 194. Protection of freedom of movement

    • 195. Protection for private and family life and for privacy of home and other property

    • 196. Protection of right to marry, and of spouses’ and children’s rights

    • 197. Protection of freedom of conscience

    • 198. Protection of right to education

    • 199. Protection of freedom of expression

    • 200. Protection of freedom of assembly and association

    • 201. Protection from deprivation of property

    • 202. Protection from arbitrary deprivation of right of abode in Tristan da Cunha or of British citizenship

    • 203. Protection from discrimination

    • 204. Derogations from fundamental rights and freedoms under emergency powers

    • 205. Protection of persons detained under emergency laws

    • 206. Enforcement of protective provisions

    • 207. Application of this Part to the members of a disciplined force

  • Part 3

    The Governor

    • 208. The Governor

    • 209. Powers of pardon, etc

    • 210. Powers to dispose of land

    • 211. Public seal

    • 212. Constitution of offices

  • Part 4

    The Executive

    • 213. Executive authority

    • 214. Island Council

    • 215. Attorney General

  • Part 5

    The Legislature

    • 216. Power to make laws

    • 217. Disallowance of laws

  • Part 6

    The Administration of Justice

    • 218. The Courts of Tristan da Cunha

    • 219. Independence of the judiciary

    • Supreme Court

      • 220. Jurisdiction of Supreme Court

      • 221. Sittings of Supreme Court

      • 222. Exercise of jurisdiction of Supreme Court

    • Court of Appeal

      • 223. Jurisdiction of Court of Appeal

      • 224. Practice and procedure on appeals

    • General

      • 225. Rules of Court

  • Part 7

    Public Service

    • 226. Appointments etc of officers of Tristan da Cunha Public Service

    • 227. Terms and conditions of employment

  • Part 8

    Audit

    • 228. Audit

  • Part 9

    Miscellaneous

    • 229. Interpretation

    • 230. References to the holder of an office to include a person acting in the office

    • 231. Power to amend and revoke instruments, etc

    • 232. Appointments

    • 233. Removal from office

    • 234. Resignations

• SCHEDULE TO THE CONSTITUTION

  Forms of Oaths and Affirmations

Source: The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009 No. 1751