Constitution of the Republic of the Congo

• The UN Charter
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• The African Charter on Human and People's Rights
• The 1991 Congolese Charter of National Unity and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

The 2015 referendum

• Abolishing the death penalty.
• Extending the right to run for president to three terms, while simultaneously reducing the presidential term from seven to five years.
• Eliminating the maximum age limit of 70 years for the presidency, and reducing the minimum age from 40 to 30 years.
• Reinstating the position of Prime Minister, abolished in 2009.
• Reforming the Constitutional Court. Previously entirely nominated by the president, its nine members are now nominated by the chairs of the National Assembly and Senate, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the President, for four-year terms renewable twice.
• Creates a number of consultative bodies. They are able to call government officials to testify on issues relevant to their purview:
• # The National Council for Dialogue
• # The Consultative Council for Women
• # The Consultative Council for People Living with Handicaps
• # The Consultative Council for Youth
• # The Consultative Council for Traditions and Religions
• # The Consultative Council for NGOs and Civil Society
• Giving greater powers to local authorities and affirming that Congo is a “decentralised state”.