The Constitutional and Law Reform Commission was established in 2005 soon after the enactment of the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission Act, (No. 24 of 2004) by the National Parliament on 24 November 2004 and proclaimed into force in March 4 2005.

The Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) is a successor in law to the Constitutional Development Commission and the Law Reform Commission. The Law Reform Commission was an institution that was constitutionally mandated under Section 21(2) and Schedule 2.13 of the Constitution to be responsible for undertaking all law reform activity and monitor and report to Parliament through the National Executive Council on the development of the underlying law. As a successor institution of the former Law Reform Commission, the CLRC still has that constitutional mandate and responsibilities. 

The CLRC (the Commission) is a constitutional office to which Part IX (Constitutional Office-Holders and Constitutional Institutions) of the Constitution applies. Accordingly all Commissioners and the Secretary are subject to the Organic Law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership (The Leadership Code).

The Commission consist of a Chairman and six part-time Commissioners.  The Office of the Chairman is a full time position.  The Commissioners consist of two (2) serving Members of Parliament, an expert in constitutional law, an expert in anthropology, sociology and political science, a representative of Papua New Guinea Council of Churches; and the Executive Dean of the School of Law of the University of Papua New Guinea as ex officio.  A formal educational qualification is desirable, but not essential for appointment as a Commissioner.  All Commissioners, must, however be citizens.