The governing documents of the education system in Angola define higher education as a subsystem of education in which the guidelines on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are conveyed, which are translated into various actions as marks of an identity, of which the functions stand out. This article particularly analyses the functions of teaching, research and extension, considering the advances and limitations in the Basic Laws of the Education System, Law n.º 13/01 and Law n.º 17/16, amended by Law n.º 32/20. To this end, a qualitative methodology of a descriptive-comparative nature was applied, in which a documentary analysis of the structural content of occurrences was carried out, initially summarizing the regulations and then, in tables, comparing the results obtained by categories. In conclusion, the study reveals that in the functions analyzed there is a progressive normative discourse, from legislation to legislation, despite the centrality of the holder of executive power in determining the development of HEI activity, somehow relegating the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to a support department.