SHARIAsource

Country Background

Nicaragua is located in Central America bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. It is bounded by Costa Rica and Honduras. The capital of Nicaragua is Managua. The official language is Spanish. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 6 million. Nicaragua is a predominantly Christian country, with about 59% of the population Roman Catholic.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Nicaragua is referred to as a presidential republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The current Constitution of Nicaragua was adopted in 1987. The system of government is civil law with four branches: legislative, executive, judicial, and electoral. This fourth branch is the Consejo Supremo Electoral (Supreme Electoral Council), which is responsible for organizing and holding elections.

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Nicaragua.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Nicaragua.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Nicaragua has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  
  • Asamblea Nacional [National Assembly]
• Executive
  • Presidencia [President]
• Judicial
• Corte Suprema de Justicia [Supreme Court of Justice] 
• Electoral
• Consejo Supremo Electoral [Electoral Supreme Council]

 Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Nicaragua (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Nicaragua (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Nicaragua (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Nicaragua (World Intellectual Property Organization)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].