The Constitution in force since 18 January 1996 solemnly affirms the fundamental principles of the Republic of Cameroon. It establishes Cameroon as a "decentralized unitary State" that is "one, indivisible, secular, democratic, and social" (Section 1).

A multicultural and multilingual State, Cameroon, taking into account its history, adopts English and French as official languages of equal status.

The Republic's motto is "Peace – Work – Fatherland." Section 2 of the Constitution states that "national sovereignty belongs to the Cameroonian people, who exercise it either through the President of the Republic and members of Parliament, or directly by referendum." The authorities responsible for managing the State derive their powers from the people through elections based on direct or indirect universal suffrage. The vote is equal and secret, with the legal voting age set at 20.

These principles being affirmed, the Cameroonian Constitution establishes three principal branches of State power: the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial.