COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY REGULATION NUMBER 1
Pursuant to my authority as Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA),
relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 1483 (2003), and the
laws and usages of war,
I hereby promulgate the following:
Section 1
The Coalition Provisional Authority
1) The CPA shall exercise powers of government temporarily in order to provide for the
effective administration of Iraq during the period of transitional administration, to
restore conditions of security and stability, to create conditions in which the Iraqi
people can freely determine their own political future, including by advancing efforts
to restore and establish national and local institutions for representative governance
and facilitating economic recovery and sustainable reconstruction and development.
2) The CPA is vested with all executive, legislative and judicial authority necessary to
achieve its objectives, to be exercised under relevant U.N. Security Council
resolutions, including Resolution 1483 (2003), and the laws and usages of war. This
authority shall be exercised by the CPA Administrator.
3) As the Commander of Coalition Forces, the Commander of U.S. Central Command
shall directly support the CPA by deterring hostilities; maintaining Iraq's territorial
integrity and security; searching for, securing and destroying weapons of mass
destruction; and assisting in carrying out Coalition policy generally.
Section 2
The Applicable Law
Unless suspended or replaced by the CPA or superseded by legislation issued by
democratic institutions of Iraq, laws in force in Iraq as of April 16, 2003 shall
continue to apply in Iraq insofar as the laws do not prevent the CPA from
exercising its rights and fulfilling its obligations, or conflict with the present or
any other Regulation or Order issued by the CPA.
Section 3
Regulations and Orders issued by the CPA
1) In carrying out the authority and responsibility vested in the CPA, the
Administrator will, as necessary, issue Regulations and Orders. Regulations shall
be those instruments that define the institutions and authorities of the CPA. Orders
CPA/REG/16 May 2003/01

are binding instructions issued by the CPA. Regulations and Orders will remain in
force until repealed by the Administrator or superseded by legislation issued by
democratic institutions of Iraq. Regulations and Orders issued by the '
Administrator shall take precedence over all other laws and publications to the
extent such other laws and publications are inconsistent. The Administrator may
also from time to time issue Public Notices.
2) The promulgation of any CPA Regulation or Order requires the approval or
signature of the Administrator. The Regulation or Order shall enter into force as
specified therein, shall be promulgated in the relevant languages and shall be
disseminated as widely as possible. In the case of divergence, the English text
shall prevail.
3) CPA Regulations and Orders shall bear the symbols CPA/REG/Date Month
2003/_ and CPA/ORD/Date Month 2003/. A register of the Regulations and
Orders shall indicate the date of entry into force, the subject matter and
amendments or changes thereto, or the repeal or suspension thereof.
Section 4
Memoranda
1) The Administrator may issue Memoranda in relation to the interpretation and
application of any Regulation or Order.
2) CPA Memoranda shall bear the symbols CPA/MEM/Date Month 2003/_. The
provisions of Section 3 shall also apply to the promulgation of CPA Memoranda.
Section 5
Entry into Force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of signature.
LaBrand 511603
L. Paul Bremer, Administrator
Coalition Provisional Authority
CPA/REG/16 May 2003/01