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Legal system of Macau

January 01, 1970

Macau law is broadly based on Portuguese law, and therefore part of the civil law tradition of continental European legal systems. Portuguese law is itself highly influenced by German law. However, many other influences are present, including Chinese law, Italian law, and some narrow aspects of common law.

Former Senate of Macau

Macau's legal code is written in Portuguese; therefore law students at University of Macau take their classes in Portuguese.[1]

Constitutional law edit

The apex of the legal system is the Basic Law of the Macau SAR, a Chinese law approved in accordance with and due to the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau (an international treaty that is officially deposited at the UN) and with article 31 of the Constitution of the PRC. Within Macau, the Basic Law has constitutional rank. The Basic Law of Macau is modelled upon the Basic Law of Hong Kong, although it is not totally equal, as it namely is influenced by the Portuguese Constitution in some points as, for example, in some norms concerning fundamental rights. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights applies in Macau.

The transfer of power edit

The legal system of Macau was not substantially modified in 1999, as a result of the transfer of power from Portugal to the PRC, given that there is a principle of continuity of the pre-existing legal system, according to which all sources in force prior to the transfer of sovereignty continued to apply, with some minor exceptions that were specified in December 1999.

Judicial system edit

The courts of the Macau SAR are structured in three levels and have final power of adjudication, except in very narrow areas. The Court of Final Appeal has three judges, and the Court of Second Instance has five judges. Trial by jury is foreseen in the law, but is not used.

Prior to 1991, Macau judicial system was a sub-judiciary district (Comarca de Macau) of the judicial framework of the Portuguese legal system and was affiliated to the Judiciary District of Lisbon (Distrito Judicial de Lisboa).[2]

By 2018 none of the criminal court judges were Portuguese. In 2018 Reuters stated: "Courts have largely stopped providing Portuguese translations."[3]

High Court edit

The Higher Court of Justice (Superior Court of Justice) of Macau replaced the role of Court of Appeal of the Judiciary District of Lisbon. This highest court would be replaced by the current Court of Appeal in 1999.

The courts prior to the handover in 1999:

  • Superior Council of Magistrates
  • Superior Council of Public Prosecutors
  • Court of Justice of Macau
  • Criminal Preliminary Hearing Court of Macau
  • Administrative Court of Macau
  • Constitutional Court of the Republic of Portugal
  • Supreme Administrative Court of the Republic of Portugal
  • Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Portugal
  • Audit Court of the Republic of Portugal

The courts of Macau consist of:

  • Court of Final Appeal – 終審法院/Tribunal de Ultima Instância
  • Court of General Competence
  • Administrative Court (Tribunal Administrativo)
  • Criminal Preliminary Hearing Court – (Juizos de Instrução Criminal)
  • Audit Court
  • Higher Court of Justice
  • Judiciary Council of Macau (Tribunal Judicial de Base)
  • Court of Second Instance or Court of Appeal (Tribunal de Segunda Instância)
  • Court of First Instance (Tribunais de Primeira Instância)
  • Primary Court of Macau – 初級法院/(Tribunal Judícial de Base)
  • Judiciary Council of Macau (Conselho dos Magistrados Judíciais)

Macau as a civil law legal system edit

Macau is typically a civil law legal system, in that legislation is the main source of law and case law, while clearly relevant, is not a major source of law. Macau has the five 'classic' codifications: the Civil Code, the Commercial Code, the Civil Procedure Code, the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code. In addition, there are a number of other smaller codifications (e.g., in the field of administrative law).

Private law edit

Private law in Macau is basically codified in two separate codes: the 1999 Civil Code and the 1999 Commercial code. A number of other pieces of legislation, such as the law on standard contract terms, are also of importance. The Commercial Code has been translated into English and is freely available in the website of the Macau Official Printing House (see link below). For a partial translation of the Civil Code, see the bibliography below.

Legal education edit

The Faculty of Law of the University of Macau was created in the late 1980s and currently offers law degrees and master programmes conducted in Chinese and Portuguese languages. It also offers two master and postgraduate programmes in English, one in EU, international and comparative law, and the other in international business law [1]. In addition, it offers PhD programs in law.

Legal Department edit

The Public Prosecutions Office (檢察院; Ministério Público) is the judicial authority of Macau. It is led by a prosecutor general and assisted by an assistant-prosecutor general. Day to day legal activities are performed by general prosecutors.

Gaming law edit

Macau gaming law is discussed in a separate entry.

Law field employees edit

In 2018 Macau had 49 jurists, with ten percent being Portuguese. Reuters stated in 2018 that according to "experts", "the government was increasingly hiring only Chinese for jobs as lawyers, advisers and jurists."[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Taylor, Michael (10 June 2009). "Portuguese makes comeback in Macau". South China Morning Post. from the original on 3 September 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016. ()
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 30 April 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2006.
  3. ^ a b "In Macau, Portuguese elites feel squeezed out by Chinese influence". Reuters. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2021.

Further reading edit

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macau.
  • Macau Law Directory (Government Printing Bureau)
    • (in Chinese) Traditional Chinese version
    • (in Portuguese) Portuguese version
    • (in English) English version at the Wayback Machine (archive index) (No longer live as of 7 September 2018)
    • (in Chinese and Portuguese) Macau Courts
    • (in English) Faculty of Law, University of Macau
    • (in English) Personal page of Prof. Jorge Godinho, University of Macau
    • (in English) Links to sites of legal interest

January 01, 1970
legal, system, macau, macau, broadly, based, portuguese, therefore, part, civil, tradition, continental, european, legal, systems, portuguese, itself, highly, influenced, german, however, many, other, influences, present, including, chinese, italian, some, nar. Macau law is broadly based on Portuguese law and therefore part of the civil law tradition of continental European legal systems Portuguese law is itself highly influenced by German law However many other influences are present including Chinese law Italian law and some narrow aspects of common law Former Senate of Macau Macau s legal code is written in Portuguese therefore law students at University of Macau take their classes in Portuguese 1 Contents 1 Constitutional law 2 The transfer of power 3 Judicial system 4 High Court 5 Macau as a civil law legal system 6 Private law 7 Legal education 8 Legal Department 9 Gaming law 10 Law field employees 11 See also 12 References 13 Further reading 14 External linksConstitutional law editThe apex of the legal system is the Basic Law of the Macau SAR a Chinese law approved in accordance with and due to the Sino Portuguese Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau an international treaty that is officially deposited at the UN and with article 31 of the Constitution of the PRC Within Macau the Basic Law has constitutional rank The Basic Law of Macau is modelled upon the Basic Law of Hong Kong although it is not totally equal as it namely is influenced by the Portuguese Constitution in some points as for example in some norms concerning fundamental rights The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights applies in Macau The transfer of power editThe legal system of Macau was not substantially modified in 1999 as a result of the transfer of power from Portugal to the PRC given that there is a principle of continuity of the pre existing legal system according to which all sources in force prior to the transfer of sovereignty continued to apply with some minor exceptions that were specified in December 1999 Judicial system editThe courts of the Macau SAR are structured in three levels and have final power of adjudication except in very narrow areas The Court of Final Appeal has three judges and the Court of Second Instance has five judges Trial by jury is foreseen in the law but is not used Prior to 1991 Macau judicial system was a sub judiciary district Comarca de Macau of the judicial framework of the Portuguese legal system and was affiliated to the Judiciary District of Lisbon Distrito Judicial de Lisboa 2 By 2018 none of the criminal court judges were Portuguese In 2018 Reuters stated Courts have largely stopped providing Portuguese translations 3 High Court editThe Higher Court of Justice Superior Court of Justice of Macau replaced the role of Court of Appeal of the Judiciary District of Lisbon This highest court would be replaced by the current Court of Appeal in 1999 The courts prior to the handover in 1999 Superior Council of Magistrates Superior Council of Public Prosecutors Court of Justice of Macau Criminal Preliminary Hearing Court of Macau Administrative Court of Macau Constitutional Court of the Republic of Portugal Supreme Administrative Court of the Republic of Portugal Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Portugal Audit Court of the Republic of Portugal The courts of Macau consist of Court of Final Appeal 終審法院 Tribunal de Ultima Instancia Court of General Competence Administrative Court Tribunal Administrativo Criminal Preliminary Hearing Court Juizos de Instrucao Criminal Audit Court Higher Court of Justice Judiciary Council of Macau Tribunal Judicial de Base Court of Second Instance or Court of Appeal Tribunal de Segunda Instancia Court of First Instance Tribunais de Primeira Instancia Primary Court of Macau 初級法院 Tribunal Judicial de Base Judiciary Council of Macau Conselho dos Magistrados Judiciais Macau as a civil law legal system editMacau is typically a civil law legal system in that legislation is the main source of law and case law while clearly relevant is not a major source of law Macau has the five classic codifications the Civil Code the Commercial Code the Civil Procedure Code the Penal Code the Criminal Procedure Code In addition there are a number of other smaller codifications e g in the field of administrative law Private law editPrivate law in Macau is basically codified in two separate codes the 1999 Civil Code and the 1999 Commercial code A number of other pieces of legislation such as the law on standard contract terms are also of importance The Commercial Code has been translated into English and is freely available in the website of the Macau Official Printing House see link below For a partial translation of the Civil Code see the bibliography below Legal education editThe Faculty of Law of the University of Macau was created in the late 1980s and currently offers law degrees and master programmes conducted in Chinese and Portuguese languages It also offers two master and postgraduate programmes in English one in EU international and comparative law and the other in international business law 1 In addition it offers PhD programs in law Legal Department editThe Public Prosecutions Office 檢察院 Ministerio Publico is the judicial authority of Macau It is led by a prosecutor general and assisted by an assistant prosecutor general Day to day legal activities are performed by general prosecutors Gaming law editMacau gaming law is discussed in a separate entry Law field employees editIn 2018 Macau had 49 jurists with ten percent being Portuguese Reuters stated in 2018 that according to experts the government was increasingly hiring only Chinese for jobs as lawyers advisers and jurists 3 See also editLegal systems of the world Civil law legal system Civil code Commercial code Immigration to MacauReferences edit Taylor Michael 10 June 2009 Portuguese makes comeback in Macau South China Morning Post Archived from the original on 3 September 2016 Retrieved 15 August 2016 Brief Introduction of Judicial System of Macao Archived from the original on 30 April 2006 Retrieved 5 September 2006 a b In Macau Portuguese elites feel squeezed out by Chinese influence Reuters 5 October 2018 Retrieved 12 February 2021 Further reading editCarvalho Henrique July 2018 The beginnings of copyright law in Macau The Journal of World Intellectual Property 21 3 4 176 200 doi 10 1111 jwip 12106 S2CID 159020533 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macau Macau Law Directory Government Printing Bureau in Chinese Traditional Chinese version in Portuguese Portuguese version in English English version at the Wayback Machine archive index No longer live as of 7 September 2018 in Chinese and Portuguese Macau Courts in English Faculty of Law University of Macau in English Personal page of Prof Jorge Godinho University of Macau in English Links to sites of legal interest Brief Introduction of Judicial System of Macau Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Legal system of Macau amp oldid 1223721403, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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