Americas > South America > Bolivia > Bolivia Government Profile 2011

Bolivia: Bolivia Government Profile 2011

2010/07/08

Bolivia gained independence in 1825, and since then has had over 16 constitutions. The constitution of 1967, revised in 1994, provides for a government divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president is chosen by popular election for a five-year term and appoints his cabinet. The two-house national legislature, called the Congress, is composed of senators and deputies, elected directly for five-year terms.

There are nine departments in Bolivia, which have been divided for the purposes of local government, which is headed by a popularly elected prefecto (governor). The department is made up of 94 provinces, each of which is further divided into municipalities. There are a number of political parties in Bolivia, which are highly influenced by indigenous groups, labor organizations, and the top businessmen of the country. Suffrage is granted to married Bolivians if they are 18 years old, though unmarried Bolivians have to be at least 21 years old to be able to vote.

The judiciary consists of a supreme court, district courts, provincial courts, and local courts. The justices of the supreme court are appointed by the Congress.

The Bolivian defense force consists of an army, a small air force, and a small navy that also maintains patrol boats on the inland rivers. Bolivian men who are 18 years or older may be drafted for service.
 

Government type: 

republic; note - the new constitution defines Bolivia as a "Social Unitarian State"

Administrative divisions: 

9 departments ( departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija

Independence: 

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

National holiday: 

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Constitution: 

7 February 2009

Legal system: 

based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; the 2009 Constitution incorporates indigenous community justice into Bolivia's judicial system

Suffrage: 

18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single)

Legislative branch: 

bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (36 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of ） Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; 76 members are directly elected from their districts [7 or 8 of these are chosen from indigenous districts] and 54 are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms).

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre- selected by Assembly for six-year terms); District Courts (one in each department); Plurinational Constitutional Court (five primary or titulares and five alternate or suplente magistrates elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected by Assembly for six- year terms; to rule on constitutional issues); Plurinational Electoral Organ (seven members elected by the Assembly and the president; one member must be of indigenous origin to six- year terms); Agro-Environmental Court (judges elected by popular vote from list of candidates pre-selected by Assembly for six-year terms; to run on agro-environmental issues); provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)

Political parties and leaders : 

Bolivia-National Convergence or PPB-CN [Manfred REYES VILLA]; Movement of Social Patriotic Union or Muspa [Ana Maria FLORES Sanzetenea]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]; National Unity or UN [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana]; People or Gente [Roman LOAYZA]; People for Liberty and Sovereignty or Pulso [Alejo VELIZ]; Social Alliance or AS [Rene JOAQUINO]; Social Democratic Bolivia or BSD [Rime CHOQUEHUANCA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: 

Bolivian Workers Central or COR; Federation of Neighborhood Councils of El Alto or FEJUVE; Landless Movement or MST; National Coordinator for Change or CONALCAM; Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB other: Cocalero groups; indigenous organizations (including Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Eastern Bolivia or CIDOB and National Council of Ayullus and Markas of Quollasuyu or CONAMAQ); labor unions (including the Central Bolivian Workers' Union or COB and Cooperative Miners Federation or FENCOMIN)

International organization participation: 

CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Flag description: 

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band

Bolivia News
More >
Trending Articles