Sudan 2019 Subsequently amended

1. The Republic of Sudan is an independent, sovereign, democratic, parliamentary, pluralistic, decentralized state, where rights and duties are based on citizenship without discrimination due to race, religion, culture, sex, color, gender, social or economic status, political opinion, disability, regional affiliation or any other cause.

2. The state is committed to the respect of human dignity and diversity; and is founded on justice, equality and on the guarantee of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

1. All people, bodies and associations, whether official or unofficial, are subject to the rule of law.

2. The transitional authority is committed to upholding the rule of law and applying the principle of accountability and restitution of grievances and rights that have been denied.

3. Notwithstanding any text that is provided for in any law, war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of extra-judicial killing, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, crimes of financial corruption, and all crimes that involve abuse of authority committed since 30 June 1989 shall not be extinguished by prescription.

1. The duration of the transitional period shall be thirty nine Gregorian months, starting from the date of signing of this Constitutional Charter.

2. During the first six months of the transitional period, the priority shall be given to working seriously to establish peace in accordance with the provisions of the transitional period program in this regard.

1. Work on achieving a just and comprehensive peace, ending the war by addressing the roots of the Sudanese problem, treating its effects, and considering the provisional preferential measures for war-affected regions, underdeveloped regions and the most affected groups.

2. Repeal laws and provisions that restrict freedoms or that discriminate between citizens on the basis of gender.

3. Hold members of the former regime accountable in accordance with law for all crimes committed against the Sudanese people since 30 June 1989.

4. Resolve the economic crisis by stopping economic deterioration and work on laying the foundations for sustainable development by implementing an urgent economic, social, financial, and humanitarian program to face current challenges.

5. Carry out legal reform, rebuild and develop the rights and justice system, and ensure the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.

6. Work on settling the status of those who were arbitrarily dismissed from civil and military service, and strive to remedy the harm they suffered in accordance with the law.

7. Guarantee and promote women’s rights in Sudan in all social, political, and economic fields, and combat all forms of discrimination against women, taking into account provisional preferential measures in both war and peace circumstances.

8. Strengthen the role of young people of both sexes and expand their opportunities in all social, political and economic fields.

9. Establish mechanisms to prepare to establish a permanent constitution for the Republic of Sudan.

10. Hold the national constitutional conference before the end of the transitional period.

11. Enact legislation related to the tasks of the transitional period.

12. Establish programs to reform state agencies during the transitional period in a manner that reflects their independence, national nature, and the fair distribution of opportunities therein, without altering conditions of aptitude and competence. The task of reforming military bodies shall be entrusted to military institutions in accordance with the law.

13. Establish a balanced foreign policy that achieves the state’s supreme national interests and that works on improving and building Sudan’s foreign relations, based on independence and shared interests in a manner that preserves Sudan’s sovereignty, security and borders.

14. Play an active role in social welfare and achieve social development by striving to provide healthcare, education, housing and social security, and work on maintaining a clean natural environment and biodiversity in the country and protecting and developing it in a manner that guarantees the future of generations.

15. Dismantle the 30 June 1989 regime’s structure for consolidation of power (tamkeen), and build a state of laws and institutions.

16. Form a national independent investigation committee, with African support if necessary as assessed by the national committee, to conduct a transparent, detailed investigation of violations committed on 3 June 2019, and events and incidents where violations of the rights and dignity of civilian and military citizens were committed. The committee shall be formed within one month from the date of approval of the Prime Minister’s appointment. The order forming the committee shall contain guarantees that it will be independent and possess full powers to investigate and shall determine the timeframe for its work.

1. The Republic of Sudan is a decentralized state, whose levels of government are as follows:

a. The federal level, which exercises its powers to protect the sovereignty of Sudan and the safety of its territory, and promote the welfare of its people by exercising powers on the national level;

b. The regional or state level, which exercises its powers on the level of regions or states in accordance with measures that will be decided subsequently;

c. The local level, which promotes broad popular participation and expresses the basic needs of citizens. The law determines its structures and powers.

2. The different levels of government have exclusive and shared competencies and powers and resources for each level, as determined by the law.

3. Until the geographical demarcation and distribution of powers and competencies between the levels of government is re-examined, the existing system shall remain in effect and executive governments shall be formed in the states, as determined by subsequent measures.

1. The Sovereignty Council, which is the head of state and the symbol of its sovereignty and unity;

2. The Cabinet, which is the supreme, executive authority of the state;

3. The Transitional Legislative Council, which is the authority responsible for legislation and oversight over the executive branch’s performance.

1. The Sovereignty Council is the head of state, the symbol of its sovereignty and unity, and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, and other uniformed forces. It is formed by agreement between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change.

2. The Sovereignty Council consists of 11 members, of whom five are civilians selected by the Forces of Freedom and Change, and five are selected by the Transitional Military Council. The eleventh member is a civilian, selected through agreement between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change.

3. Over the first twenty one months of the transitional period, the Sovereignty Council is chaired by someone selected by the military members, and in the remaining 18 months of the transitional period, starting from 17 May 2021, it is chaired by a civilian member selected by the five civilian members who were selected by the Forces of Freedom and Change.

1. The Sovereignty Council exercises the following competencies and powers:

a. Appoint the Prime Minister selected by the Forces of Freedom and Change;

b. Confirm the Cabinet members appointed by the Prime Minister, from a list of candidates provided by the Forces of Freedom and Change;

c. Confirm governors of states or provinces, as the case may be, after they are appointed by the Prime Minister;

d. Confirm the appointment of members of the Transitional Legislative Council after they are selected in accordance with the provisions of Article 24(3) of this Charter;

e. Confirm the formation of the Supreme Judicial Council after it is formed in accordance with the law;

f. Confirm the appointment of the Chief Justice, judges of the Supreme Court, and the president and members of the constitutional court, after they are nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council. Until the Supreme Judicial Council is formed, the Chief Justice shall be nominated by the Sovereignty Council;

g. Confirm the appointment of the Prosecutor-General after he is nominated by the Supreme Council of the Public Prosecution. Until the Supreme Prosecutorial Council is reconstituted, the Prosecutor General shall be appointed by the Sovereignty Council;

h. Confirm the appointment of the Auditor-General after he is selected by the Cabinet;

i. Confirm Sudan’s ambassadors abroad upon nomination of the Cabinet, and accept the accreditation of foreign ambassadors to Sudan;

j. Declare war based on a recommendation from the Security and Defense Council, which consists of the Sovereignty Council, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Finance, the General Commander of the Armed Forces, the Prosecutor-General and the Director-General of the General Intelligence Service, provided that [the declaration of war] is ratified by the Transitional Legislative Council within fifteen days from the date of the declaration. If the Transitional Legislative Council is not in session, an emergency session shall be convened;

k. Declare a state of emergency at the request of the Cabinet, which is ratified by the Transitional Legislative Council within fifteen days from the date of the declaration;

l. Sign laws passed by the Transitional Legislative Council. In the event the Sovereignty Council fails to sign a law for fifteen days without providing reasons, the law is deemed in effect. If within the same fifteen day period, the Sovereignty Council provides reasons for its refusal to sign, the law is returned to the Transitional Legislative Council which will deliberate on the Sovereignty Council’s observations. The draft law is adopted if the Transitional Legislative Council passes it again; in this case, the Sovereignty Council’s approval is not necessary for the law to enter into force.

m. Ratify final rulings requiring the imposition of the death penalty issued by judicial authorities in accordance with the law;

n. Pardon and vacate the sentence or conviction in accordance with the law;

o. Sign international and regional agreements after ratification by the Transitional Legislative Council;

p. Oversee the peace process with armed movements;

q. Issue regulations organizing its activities.

2. For the purposes of this article, “confirm” refers to signatures that are formally necessary for the issued decision to enter into effect. A decision shall enter into effect within fifteen days from the date on which it is submitted to the Sovereignty Council. If the Sovereignty Council provides reasons for its refusal to confirm or ratify within fifteen days from the date on which it receives the decision, the decision shall be returned to the body that issued it to deliberate the Sovereignty Council’s observations. If the competent body issues the decision again, the decision or ratification shall beconsidered legally effective.

3. The Sovereignty Council issues decisions by consensus or, in the absence of consensus, by a two-thirds majority of its members.

1. He is of Sudanese nationality by birth, and does not hold the nationality of any other country;

2. He is not less than thirty-five years of age;

3. He possesses integrity and competence;

4. He has not been convicted by a final ruling from a competent court for a crime related to honor, trustworthiness or financial responsibility.

1. Members of the Sovereignty Council lose their membership for any of the following reasons:

a. Resignation;

b. Illness that prevents him from performing his duties, in accordance with a medical report issued by a legally accredited body;

c. Conviction by a final ruling from a competent court on a crime related to honor, trustworthiness or financial responsibility;

d. Loss of one of the conditions of membership;

e. Death;

2. In the event a seat on the Sovereignty Council becomes vacant, the Transitional Legislative Council shall nominate a replacement member if the member whose seat was vacated is a civilian, and the General Commander of the Armed Forces shall nominate the replacement if the member is military, and the Sovereignty Council shall confirm the appointment.

1. The Cabinet is composed, through consultations, of a Prime Minister and a number of ministers not exceeding twenty from national and independent professionals, appointed by the Prime Minister from a list of candidates provided by the Forces of Freedom and Change, and confirmed by the Sovereignty Council, except for the Ministers of Defense and Interior, who are nominated by the Sovereignty Council’s military members.

2. The Forces of Freedom and Change selects the Prime Minister, and the Sovereignty Council appoints him.

3. Ministers bear collective and individual responsibility before the Transitional Legislative Council for the performance of the Cabinet and that of the ministries.

1. Implement the tasks of the transitional period in accordance with the program of the Freedom and Change Declaration contained in this Charter;

2. Work to stop the wars and conflicts and build peace;

3. Initiate draft laws, the draft general budget of the state, international treaties and bilateral and multilateral agreements;

4. Devise plans, programs, and policies relating to public civil service, which shall be responsible for administering the apparatus of the state and for applying and implementing such plans and programs;

5. Form independent national commissions in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 12;

6. Appoint and dismiss the heads of the civil service, oversee and guide the work of state agencies, including the activities of ministries, public institutions, bodies, authorities and the companies subordinate or connected thereto, and coordinate between them in accordance with the law;

7. Supervise the enforcement of the law in accordance with the various competencies and take all measures and procedures to perform its transitional duties;

8. Issue regulations organizing its activities.

1. The Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet shall meet the following conditions:

a. He is Sudanese by birth;

b. He is not less than twenty-five years of age;

c. He has integrity, competence, practical expertise qualifications and has the appropriate administrative capabilities for the position;

d. He has not been convicted by a final ruling from a competent court of a crime of honor, trustworthiness or financial responsibility;

2. In addition to the condition set ou in Paragraph (1)(a) of this article, the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Defense, Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Justice shall not bear the nationality of another country. Exceptions from this condition may be granted by agreement between the Sovereignty Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change for the Prime Minister, and by agreement between the Sovereignty Council and the Prime Minister with respect to the ministers mentioned in this paragraph.

1. The Prime Minister or Cabinet members lose their position for any of the following reasons:

a. Resignation of the Prime Minister and its acceptance by the Sovereignty Council;

b. Resignation of the minister and its acceptance by the Prime Minister and confirmation by the Sovereignty Council;

c. Dismissal of a minister by the Prime Minister, and confirmation by the Sovereignty Council;

d. Withdrawal of confidence by the Transitional Legislative Council with a two-thirds majority;

e. Conviction by a final judgment from a competent court for a crime related to honor, trustworthiness or financial responsibility;

f. Illness that prevents him from his duties in accordance with a medical report issued by a legally accredited body;

g. Death;

h. Loss of one of the conditions of membership;

2. In the event the position of Prime Minister is vacant, the Transitional Legislative Council names a Prime Minister, and the Sovereignty Council confirms his appointment.

3. In the event the position of Prime Minister is vacant before the Transitional Legislative Council is formed, the Prime Minister is appointed in accordance with the initial appointment procedure.

1. Upon assuming their positions, the chairman and members of the Sovereignty Council and the Cabinet, governors or ministers of provinces or states and members of the Transitional Legislative Council submit a declaration of assets including their properties and obligations, as well as those of their spouses and children, in accordance with the law.

2. The chairman and members of the Sovereignty Council and of the Cabinet, governors or ministers of provinces or states undertake to refrain from practicing any private profession or commercial or financial activity while occupying their positions. They shall not receive any financial compensation, gifts, or work of any type from any non-governmental entity, whatever the case may be.

1. Anyone harmed by the actions of the Sovereignty Council or of the Cabinet may challenge the same before:

a. The Constitutional Court, if the challenge is related to any infringement of the constitutional order or constitutional freedoms, protections or rights.

b. A court, if the challenge is related to any violation of the law.

2. The law establishes the sovereign matters that are not subject to appeal.

1. Criminal procedures may not be taken against any member of the Sovereignty Council, Cabinet, Transitional Legislative Council or governors of provinces/states without receiving the necessary permission to lift immunity from the Legislative Council.

2. The decision to lift this procedural immunity is issued by a simple majority of members of the Legislative Council.

3. Until the Transitional Legislative Council is formed, lifting immunity falls within the competencies of the Constitutional Court. If the Legislative Council is not in session, an emergency session is held.

1. The Transitional Legislative Council is an independent legislative authority. It may not be dissolved. The number of members therein shall not exceed three hundred members, provided that consideration shall be given to represent all forces participating in the change, except for members of the National Congress and the political forces that participated in the former regime until its downfall.

2. The participation of women must not be less than 40% of the Transitional Legislative Council’s members.

3. 67% of the members of the Transitional Legislative Council are selected by the Forces of Freedom and Change, and 33% are selected by the other forces that did not sign the Freedom and Change Declaration. The latter shall be specified and each force’s proportion in the Council determined in consultation between the Forces of Freedom and Change and the military members of the Sovereignty Council.

4. The Transitional Legislative Council is formed and begins to exercise its duties in a period not exceeding 90 days from the date on which this Charter is signed.

5. In forming the Transitional Legislative Council, consideration shall be given to the components of Sudanese society, including political, civil and professional forces, Sufi orders, native administrations, and armed movements that signed and those that did not sign the Freedom and Change Declaration, as well as other components of Sudanese society.

1. The Transitional Legislative Council has the following competencies and powers:

a. Enacting laws and legislation;

b. Overseeing the performance of the Cabinet, holding it accountable, and withdrawing confidence therefrom or from any of its members, if necessary;

c. Approving the general budget of the state;

d. Ratifying bilateral, regional and international agreements and treaties;

e. Enacting legislation and regulations organizing its activities and selecting the Council’s Speaker, Deputy Speaker and its specialized committees;

2. In the event confidence is withdrawn from the Prime Minister, the Transitional Legislative Council names the Prime Minister, who is confirmed by the Sovereignty Council;

3. Until the Transitional Legislative Council is formed, the Council’s powers are invested in the members of the Sovereignty Council and the Cabinet, who exercise them in a joint meeting, and who take decisions by consensus or by a two-thirds majority of members.

4. Decisions of the Transitional Legislative Council are issued by simple majority;

5. The term of the Transitional Legislative Council concludes at the end of the transitional period.

1. He is a Sudanese national by birth;

2. He is not less than twenty-one years of age;

3. He possesses integrity and competence;

4. He has not been convicted by a final ruling from a competent court of a crime relating to honor, trustworthiness, or financial responsibility;

5. He must be able to read and write.

1. A member of the Legislative Council loses his position for any of the following reasons:

a. Resignation and its acceptance by the Transitional Legislative Council;

b. Dismissal by the Transitional Legislative Council, in accordance with the regulations organizing its work;

c. Conviction by a final ruling from a competent court of a crime related to honor, trustworthiness or financial responsibility;

d. Illness that prevents him from performing his duties, in accordance with a medical report issued by a legally accredited body;

e. Death;

f. Loss of one of the membership conditions set forth in Article 26.

2. In the event the seat of a member of the Transitional Legislative Council is vacant, the entity that originally nominated such member selects a replacement member, who is approved by the Sovereignty Council. If this is impossible, the Transitional Legislative Council selects a replacement member.

1. A Supreme Judicial Council shall be established to take the place and assume the duties of the National Judicial Service Commission. The law defines its composition, competencies and powers.

2. The Supreme Judicial Council selects the president and members of the Constitutional Court and the Chief Justice and his deputies.

1. In the Republic of Sudan, jurisdiction over the judiciary is entrusted to the judicial authority.

2. The judicial authority is independent from the Sovereignty Council and the Transitional Legislative Council and the executive branch, and it has the necessary financial and administrative independence.

3. The judicial authority has jurisdiction to adjudicate disputes and issue rulings in accordance with the law.

4. The Chief Justice of the Republic of Sudan is the head of the judicial authority and president of the National Supreme Court, and shall be responsible for administering the judicial authority before the Supreme Judicial Council.

5. The state’s agencies and institutions implement the courts’ rulings and orders.

1. The Constitutional Court is an independent court, and is separate from the judicial authority. It is competent to oversee the constitutionality of laws and measures, to protect rights and freedoms, and to adjudicate constitutional disputes.

2. The Constitutional Court is formed and its competencies and powers are defined in accordance with the law.

1. The Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces are a national military institution that protects the unity and sovereignty of the nation. They are subordinated to the General Commander of the Armed Forces and subject to the sovereign authority.

2. The Armed Forces Law and the Rapid Support Forces Law organize the relationship of the military institution with the executive authority.

1. The police forces are national, uniformed law enforcement forces, and are competent to preserve the security and safety of society. They are subject to the policies and decisions of the executive authority in accordance with the law.

2. The Police Law and Armed Forces Law organize their relationship with the sovereign authority.

39. 1. Independent commissions shall be established. Experts with attested competence and integrity shall be nominated therefor. The formation of these commissions and their competencies are defined by the laws that establish them.

2. Candidates for membership on the commissions shall meet the following requirements:

a. Academic qualifications and practical expertise in the relevant field;

b. Not having held sovereign or constitutional positions during the period of rule from 30 June 1989;

c. Neutrality, integrity, competence and professional independence.

3. The Sovereignty Council appoints the chairman and members of the following commissions, in consultation with the Cabinet:

a. The Peace Commission;

b. The Borders Commission;

c. The Constitutional Drafting and Constitutional Conference Commission;

d. The Elections Commission.

4. The Prime Minister appoints the head and the members of the following commissions:

a. The Legal Reform Commission;

b. The Anti-Corruption and Public Funds Recovery Commission;

c. The Human Rights Commission;

d. The Civil Service Reform Commission;

e. The Land Commission;

f. The Transitional Justice Commission;

g. The Women and Gender Equality Commission;

h. Any other commissions that the Cabinet deems necessary to establish.

40. 1. Upon the occurrence of any urgent danger or natural or environmental disaster that threatens the unity of the country, or any part thereof, or its safety or economy, the Sovereignty Council may, pursuant to a request from the Cabinet, declare a state of emergency in the country or any part thereof, in accordance with this Constitutional Charter and the law.

2. The declaration of a state of emergency shall be presented to the Transitional Legislative Council within fifteen days from the date of its issuance. If the Transitional Legislative Council is not in session, an emergency session shall be convened.

3. Upon the Legislative Council’s ratification of the declaration of a state of emergency, all exceptional laws, orders and measures issued thereunder remain in force.

4. The declaration of a state of emergency is extinguished if the Legislative Council does not ratify it, and all the measures taken thereunder are extinguished, without retroactive force.

1. The Bill of Rights is a pact between all the people of Sudan, and between them and their governments at every level. It is in obligation on their part to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms included in this Charter, and to work to advance them. The Bill of Rights is considered to be the cornerstone of social justice, equality and democracy in Sudan.

2. All rights and freedoms contained in international and regional human rights agreements, pacts, and charters ratified by the Republic of Sudan shall be considered an integral part of this Charter.

3. Legislation shall organize the rights and freedoms contained in this Charter but shall not confiscate them or reduce them. Legislation shall only restrict these freedoms as necessary in a democratic society.

1. Citizenship is the basis of equal rights and obligations for all Sudanese.

2. Anyone born to a Sudanese mother or father has an inalienable right to possess Sudanese nationality and citizenship.

3. The law shall organize citizenship and naturalization, and no one who has acquired citizenship by naturalization shall be deprived of nationality except by law.

4. Any Sudanese person may acquire the nationality of another country, as regulated by law.

1. Every person has the right to freedom and security. No one shall be subjected to arrest or detention, or deprived of freedom or restricted therefrom except for cause in accordance with procedures defined by law.

2. Every person who is deprived of freedom has the right to humane treatment and respect of their human dignity.

1. Slavery and human trafficking shall be prohibited in all forms. No person shall be enslaved or subjected to forced labor.

2. No person shall be compelled to perform work by force except as a punishment following conviction by a competent court.

1. The state protects women’s rights as provided in international and regional agreements ratified by Sudan.

2. The state guarantees to both men and women the equal right to enjoy all civil, political, social, cultural, and economic rights, including the right to equal pay for equal work, and other professional benefits.

3. The state guarantees women’s rights in all fields and develops them through positive discrimination.

4. The state works to combat harmful customs and traditions that reduce the dignity and status of women.

5. The state provides free healthcare for motherhood, childhood and pregnant women.

1. Accused persons are innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law.

2. A person is informed of the reasons of arrest at the time of the arrest and shall be informed of the charge against him without delay.

3. Any person who has civil or criminal proceedings against him has the right to a fair and open hearing before a competent ordinary court in accordance with the procedures defined by law.

4. Charges may not be brought against any person because of an act or failure to act if such act or failure to act did not constitute a crime at the time of its occurrence.

5. Every person has the right to be tried in their presence without unjustified delay on any criminal charge. The law shall regulate trials in absentia.

6. The accused has the right to defend himself personally or through an attorney he selects. He has the right to be provided with legal assistance by the state when he is unable to defend himself in crimes of extreme gravity.

1. The death penalty may only be inflicted as retribution (qasas), a hudud punishment, or as a penalty for crimes of extreme gravity, in accordance with the law.

2. The death penalty may not be inflicted on anyone who has not reached eighteen years of age at the time that the crime was committed.

3. The death penalty may not be inflicted on anyone who has reached seventy years of age, except in the case of qasas and hudud crimes.

4. The death penalty may only be inflicted on pregnant women and nursing mothers two years after [they have finished] breastfeeding.

1. Every citizen has the unrestricted right to freedom of expression, to receive and publish information and publications, and to access the press, without prejudice to public order, safety and morals in accordance with what is determined by law.

2. Every citizen has the right to access the internet, without prejudice to public order, safety, and morals in accordance with what is determined by law.

3. The state guarantees freedom of the press and other media, in accordance with what is determined by law in a democratic, pluralistic society.

4. All media adhere to the profession’s ethics and shall not incite religious, ethnic, racial, or cultural hatred, or call for violence or war.

1. The right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed. Every individual has the right to free organization with others, including the right to form political parties, associations, organizations, syndicates and professional unions, or to join the same in order to protect their interests.

2. The law regulates the formation and registration of political parties, associations, organizations, syndicates and professional unions, in accordance with what is required by a democratic society.

3. No organization has the right to work as a political party, unless it has:

a. Open membership for all Sudanese, regardless of religion, ethnic origin or place of birth;

b. Democratically elected leadership and institutions;

c. Transparent and declared sources of funding.

1. Every citizen has the right to freedom of travel and freedom to choose his place of residence, except for reasons required by public health or safety, in accordance with what is regulated by law.

2. Every citizen has the right to leave the country, in accordance with what is regulated by law, and has the right to return.

1. Every citizen has the right to acquire and own property in accordance with the law.

2. Private property shall not be appropriated except by virtue of a law and for the public interest, and in return for fair, and immediate compensation. Private funds may only be confiscated by virtue of a court ruling.

1. Education is a right for every citizen. The state guarantees access thereto without discrimination on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, gender or disability.

2. Education at the general level is compulsory, and the state shall provide it free of charge.

1. The state guarantees for handicapped persons all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Charter, in particular respect for their human dignity. It makes available appropriate education and work for them, and guarantee their full participation in society.

2. The state guarantees for the elderly the right to respect for their dignity, and provides them with the necessary medical care and services in accordance with what is regulated by law.