Provincial and Local Level Government and Administration Law 2023

Amendments to the Constitution

Stephen P Pokawin

14 July 2023

The Constitution of Papua New Guinea is indeed a living document. Since it became
effective on 16th September 1975, it has been amended 46 times. The following is the List of
Amendments1 to date. 44 of the Amendments have been formalized and the latest 2 are in
the process of being formalized. The 2022 version of the PNG Constitution includes the
first 44 Amendments.

The first 44 constitutional amendments are as follows:

Amendments No 1 – Provincial Government (in operation 31 December 1976).

Amendment No 2 – Provincial Government Elections (in operation 31 December
1976).
Amendment No 3 – Provincial Government (Consequential Amendments) (in
operation 31 December 1976).
Amendment No. 4 - Leadership Code (in operation 31 December 1976).
Amendment No. 5 - Citizenship (in operation 23 March 1977).
Amendment No. 6 - Benefits and Pensions (in operation 2 September 1980.
Amendment No 7 – Suspension and Re-establishment of Provincial Governments (in
operation 15 November 1983).
Amendment No. 8 - Public Service Commission (in operation 24 April 1986).
Amendment No. 9 - Salaries and Remuneration Commission (in operation1
September 1988).
Amendment No. 10 - The Parliament and Finance (in operation 1 September 1988).
Amendment No. 11 - Liberty of the Person (in operation 3 July 1991).
Amendment No. 12 - Leadership Code (in operation 3 July 1991).
Amendment No. 13 - Protection of the Law (in operation 3 July 1991).
Amendment No 14 - Motions of No Confidence (in operation 15 July 1992
Amendment No 15 - Elections (in operation 11 February 1992).
Amendment No 16 - Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments (in
operation –
(a) for all provinces except Bougainville – 19 July 1995; and
(b) for Bougainville Province – 01 January 1999.
Amendment No 17 – Governments (in operation 2022 January 1996).

1
Thank you to the Office of the Legislative Counsel and the National Parliament Library for their assistance in
accessing the information. See Office of Legislative Counsel (2022) The Constitution of Papua New Guinea.
Amendment No 18 – Commencement of Constitutional Amendments No 16 and 17 (in
operation 25 March 1997).
Amendment No 19 – Elections (in operation 09 April 1997).
Amendment No 20 – Commencement of Constitutional Amendments Nos 16 and 17–
Further Amendment (in operation 19 January 1998).
Amendment No 21 - Salaries and Remuneration Commission (in operation 13
November 1998).
Amendment No 22 – Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (in operation 02
February 2001).
Amendment No 23 – Peace-Building in Bougainville –Autonomous Bougainville
Government Referendum (in operation 25 June 2002).
Amendment No 24 – Electoral Reforms (in operation 25 June 2002).
Amendment No 25 – The State Services (in operation 13 May 2003).
Amendment No 26 – Organic Laws (in operation 16 September 197).
Amendment No 27 – Sales and Services Tax (in operation 27 October 2004).
Amendment No. 28 - Police Force (in operation 13 April 2004).
Amendment No. 29 - Regulatory Statutory Authorities (in operation 08 June 2007).
Amendment No 30 – Provincial Electorates Law (in operation 08 June 2007).
(Note the Original Short title: Constitutional Amendment (No. 3)
(Provincial Electorates Law 2006).
Amendment No. 31 - Number of Ministers Law 2010 (in operation 24 June 2010).
(Note the Original Short title: Constitution (Amendment)
(Number of Ministers) Law 2010).
Amendment No 32 - Provincial Electorates Law 2010 (in operation 18 May 2012).
Amendment No. 33 - Equality and Participation Law 2011(in operation 28 December
2011).
Amendment No. 34 - Sovereign Wealth Fund Law (in operation 21 March 2012).
Amendment No. 35 - Ombudsman Commission Law 2010 (in operation 12 March 2012).
(Noted the Original Short title: Constitutional (Amendment No. 34) Law
2010).
Amendment No 36 – Provincial Electorates Law 2012 (in operation 16 May 2012).
(Note the Original Short title: Constitutional Amendment No. 35 –
Provincial Electorates Law 2012).
Amendment No 37 – Motions of No Confidence Law (in operation 25 February 2013).
(Note the Original Short title: Constitutional Amendment No. 36 –
Motions of No Confidence Law)
Amendment No 38 – Citizenship Law 2014 (in operation 17 March 2014).
Amendment No. 39 _ Appointment of Certain Offices Law 2014 (in operation 14 May 2014).
(Noted the Original Short title: Constitutional Amendment (No. 38)
(Appointment of Certain Offices) Law 2014).
Amendment No 40 – Calling, Etc. of the Parliament Law 2014 (in operation 22 May 2014).
(Note the Original Short title: Constitutional Amendment No. 39
Calling, Etc. of the Parliament Law 2013)
Amendment No. 41 _ Independent Commission Against Corruption Law 2014.
(Note the Original Short title: Constitutional Amendment (No
40) (Independent Commission Against Corruption Law 2014).
Amendment No. 42 – Motions of No Confidence Law 2013 (in operation 05 August
2014).
(Noted the Original Short title: Constitutional Amendment No.41
(Motions of No Confidence Law 2013)
Amendment No. 43 – Constitutional Amendment No. 43 (Dual Citizenship) Law 2016
(in operation 29 August 2016).
Amendment No. 44 – Constitutional Amendment No. 44 (Papua New Guinea’s
Ownership of Hydro Carbons and Minerals and the Consolidation
and Commercialization of Papua New Guinea’s Business) Law
2016 (in operation ...).