Page:Vanuatu constitution.pdf/8



CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU of a person under the age of 18 years the period of renunciation shall be 3 months after he has reached the age of 18 years.

11. Persons born after day of independence

Anyone born after the Day of Independence, whether in Vanuatu or abroad, shall become a citizen of Vanuatu if at least one of his parents is a citizen of Vanuatu.

12. Naturalisation

A national of a foreign state or a stateless person may apply to be naturalised as a citizen of Vanuatu if he has lived continuously in Vanuatu for at least 10 years immediately before the date of the application.

Parliament may prescribe further conditions of the eligibility to apply for naturalisation and shall provide for the machinery to review and decide on applications for naturalisation.

13. Avoidance of dual nationality

The Republic of Vanuatu does not recognise dual nationality. Any citizen of Vanuatu who is or becomes a citizen of another state shall cease to be a citizen of Vanuatu unless he renounces that other citizenship within 3 months of acquiring Vanuatu citizenship or that other citizenship, as the case may be, or such longer period as Parliament may prescribe, except that in the case of a person under the age of 18 years the period of renunciation shall be 3 months after he has reached the age of 18 years.

14. Further provision for citizenship

Parliament may make provision for the acquisition of citizenship of Vanuatu by persons not covered in the preceding Articles of this Chapter and may make provision for the deprivation and renunciation of citizenship of Vanuatu.

15. Parliament

The legislature shall consist of a single chamber which shall be known as Parliament.

16. Power to make laws

(1) Parliament may make laws for the peace, order and good government of Vanuatu.

(2) Parliament shall make laws by passing bills introduced either by one or more members or by the Prime Minister or a Minister.

(3) When a bill has been passed by Parliament it shall be presented to the President of the Republic who shall assent to it within 2 weeks.

(4) If the President considers that the bill is inconsistent with a provision of the Constitution he shall refer it to the Supreme Court for its opinion. The bill shall not be promulgated if the Supreme Court considers it inconsistent with a provision of the Constitution. Rh