The Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, 1993
The fundamental law provides that the Kingdom of Cambodia shall be an independent, sovereign, peaceful, permanently neutral and non-aligned country. It also provides that the King of Cambodia, who is the Head of State for life, reigns but does not govern. The constitution contains a number of provisions regarding the Cambodian monarchy, which is an elected regime where the King has no power to appoint his successor. The constitution also provides for the rights and obligations of Khmer citizens. Rights of Khmer citizens include:
- The right to equality regardless of social and financial status
- Right to life
- Right against capital punishment
- Right of suffrage
- Right of petition
- Right to choose occupation
- Right to just remuneration
- Right to join trade unions
- Right to strike
- Right to protect one's reputation
- Prohibition against punishment without law
- Unjustified restrained and cruel treatment
- Prohibition of torture
- Presumption of innocence
- Right to counsel
- Freedom of movement
- Right to privacy
- Freedom of expression, association and opinion
- Right to property
On the other hand, Khmer citizens have the duty to respect the constitution and the laws, to take part in national reconstruction and to defend the motherland. They shall also respect the principles of national sovereignty and liberal multi-party democracy, public property and legally acquired private property. The constitution also sets out the political system, where citizens exercise their powers through the National Assembly, the Senate, the Royal Government and the Judiciary.