Book excerpt: Colonial history -- Parliamentary system and guided democracy (1945-1965): the political mobilization of the judiciary -- New order (1965-1970): power struggle and failure -- Entrenched new order (post-1970): political co-optation of the judiciary -- The Supreme Court and judicial organization -- The judicial function -- The Supreme Court functions of regulation and supervision -- The organization of the Supreme Court -- The judges -- The impact of the Supreme Court decisions (jurisprudence).