Overview and context

The Indonesian legal system is based on Roman-Dutch law, custom and Islamic law. The legislature is bicameral and comprises the 560 member House of People’s Representatives (DPR) and the 136 member House of Regional Representatives (DPD). The ensemble of DPR and DPD members forms a third representative body known as the People’s Con­sultative Assembly (MPR). The DPR and the President jointly discuss and approve every Bill. Bills may come from the DPR, the President or the DPD. A wide range of legislation is produced from different sources and with different levels of authority, so there is a hierarchy of legislation, as follows: the 1945 Constitution; MPR Resolution; Law; Government Regulation Substituting a Law; Government Regulation; Presidential Decree; Regional Regulation. Also binding are Presidential Instructions, Ministerial Decrees and Circular Letters.

The most recent elections for the DPR and DPD were held in April 2014, with the next expected in 2019. The current President was elected in October 2014 and serves a five-year term.