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Country Background

Ecuador is located in Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru. The capital of Ecuador is Quito. The official language is Spanish. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 16 million. Ecuador is a predominantly Christian country, with about 74% of the population Roman Catholic.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Ecuador is referred to as a presidential republic. It is a civil law system based on the Chilean civil code and traditional law in the indigenous communities. There are three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Ecuador adopted a new Constitution in 2008. The fundamental change under the 2008 Constitution was the adoption of a neo-socialist doctrine changing national norms, plans, and policies.

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Ecuador.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Ecuador.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Ecuador has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  • Congreso Nacional
  • Registro Oficial (official gazette)
• Executive
  • Presidencia

• Judicial
• Corte Nacional de Justicia [National Court of Justice]
• Corte Constitucional [Constitutional Court]
• Consejo de la Judicatura [National Council of Justice]

 Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Ecuador (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• GLIN Archive: Ecuador [1950-2011] (Law Library of Congress) includes summaries; full text is accessible from a Reading Room.
• NATLEX: Ecuador (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Ecuador (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Ecuador (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 and Arabic 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].