The Supreme Court may review the constitutionality of a law only at the president's request. Laws are adopted by majority vote of members present or, if the president demands a second reading, of a total membership. All local government officials are employees of the central government's Ministry of Territorial Administration, from which local governments also get most of their budgets. Traditional courts still play a major role in domestic, property, and probate law. Tribal laws and customs are honored in the formal court system when not in conflict with national law.
Traditional rulers receive stipends from the national government.
Following government pledges to reform the strongly centralized 1972 constitution, the National Assembly adopted a number of amendments in December 1995. Among the major features were the establishment of a Senate as part of a bicameral legislature, the creation of regional councils, and the fixing of the Presidential term to seven years, renewable once. Whether implementation of the revised constitution satisfies calls for government decentralization, independence of the judiciary, or greater balance among the branches of government remains to be seen. The government adopted legislation in 1990 to authorize the formation of multiple political parties and ease restrictions on forming civil associations and private newspapers, but formalizing press censorship as well. Within three years, Cameroon's first multiparty legislative and presidential elections were held.