Costa Rican Government
One of
the oldest democracies of Central America established in 1949. The government
of Costa Rica is a democratic republic. The people of Costa Rica at the age of
18 have to register to vote. The voter turn-out has been moderately high for
the past couple years. The people of Costa Rica can elect two branches of government
into office.
In which
there are three branches of government. The three branches of government are
the executive: 1 president and 2 vice presidents, legislative: voted in by
popular vote, and judicial placed by the legislative branch. The elections
occur every four years for both the legislative and executive branch.
Executive Branch
The executive branch is comprised of the president and
two vice presidents. All three, run on the same ballot. Every four years a new
president is elected. Presidents can run for office again though not
consecutively. Presidents may run again after sitting out two consecutive
presidential terms. They are elected by popular vote. The president does not
have the power to veto legislative budgets. Though it can appoint anyone to the
cabinet without the approval of congress. The vice-presidents will lead in the event
the president cannot. There are currently 22 Minister positions in the president’s
cabinet. It ranges from agriculture to women’s issues.
Legislative Branch
The legislative branch is unicameral meaning having
one chamber or house. There are 57 deputies elected at the same time as the president
and vice-presidents for four-year terms as well. Currently in the legislative
branch there are seven different political parties represented. There are 17
deputies for the National Liberation Party (Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN)),
National Restoration Party (Partido Restauración Nacional (PRN)), with 14
deputies, Citizens Action Party (Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC)). Also there is
the Social Christian Unity Party with 9 deputies, National Intergration Party with
4 deputies, Social-Christian Republican Party with 2 deputies, and last the
Broad Front with one deputy.
Judicial Branch
The judicial branch is the justice system of Costa Rica.
There are no juries in the courts just a single judge or several judges in
deciding what to do. The highest court is the Supreme Court of Justice the
people serving in it are called Magistrates of the Supreme Court. The magistrates
serve for eight-year terms appointed by the legislative branch. There are 22
magistrates in the Court. The magistrates continue being in the court unless
voted out by 2/3 the vote. The judicial branch has the constitutional chamber reviewing
if legislation uphold the laws of the constitution. Also, the executive decrees
and all habeas corpus warrants. A habeas corpus being a law were a person
petitions the court over the unlawful detention or imprisonment before the
court through a prison official.
Local Government
The local government of Costa Rica is divided into seven
provinces that are lead by governors appointed by the president. The provinces
are divided then into catones (cantons) then each canton divided into distritos
(districts). It is seven provinces, 83 cantons, and 463 districts. The seven
provinces are Alajuela, Cartago,
Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, and San José.
Links and Sources:
Facts about Government
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