How Laws are made in Maldives – Mukhthar Mohamed

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How laws are made in Maldives.

The need for law making goes back to when humans first settled on planet earth. It gives sense of

order to things to be in in the way should be. Laws are made today, in order to protect the rights

of each person. Maldives adopted its very first written constitution on December 22, 1932. Since

then, Maldives practiced seven different constitutions until it adopted the current ‘Green’

constitution on August 7, 2008.

In Maldives, its constitution is the supreme law. It provides the legislative background for the

existence of the nation. As per Maldivian constitution, the laws are made by People’s Majlis.

In order to mature a drafted bill into a law, at first it is sent to the parliamentary secretariat to

schedule into the agenda. In parliament's ‘First Reading’ session at first, the respective member

who proposed the bill shall introduce it explaining the need and contents of the bill. In the

‘Second Reading’, members of the parliament will have the chance for a wider ranged debate

over the content of the bill. This session will be controlled by the sitting speaker. Then, the bill

will be moved to a standing committee. Members of the committee are allowed to propose

amendments to the clauses of the bill. Then, bill will be moved back to the parliament floor, in

the “Third Reading’ where members will debate on final content of it. Then the floor will be

opened to vote on the bill. If the bill makes through the majority of the Majlis, it will be then sent

to the President for scrutinizing the Assent. Once, the President ratifies and gazettes the bill it

officially became a law.

All in all, law making process in Maldives is considerably democratic and efficient. Once a bill

is proposed either by a government or private MP, it shall go through all the aforementioned

channels in order to complete the due process, before it becomes a law.

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How Laws are made in Maldives – Mukhthar Mohamed

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Reference

Constituion of Maldives. (2008). Male': Government of Maldives.

Johnson, K. (2010). How Laws are Passed in Maldives. Singapore: StudyMode.