The Dominican Republic is a representative democratic country, where citizens have the right to vote for their leaders and participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives. The country’s current constitution was enacted in 2015 and establishes a presidential representative democratic republic with three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The President is the head of the executive branch and serves as the head of state and government. The President is elected by popular vote for a four-year term, and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. The President appoints the members of the Cabinet and is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws passed by the legislative branch.
The legislative branch is made up of a bicameral congress, which consists of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate has 32 members who serve for four years, while the Chamber of Deputies has 190 members who serve for two years. Both houses of Congress are responsible for passing laws and overseeing the work of the executive branch.
The judicial branch is independent of the executive and legislative branches and is responsible for interpreting the laws and ensuring that they are applied fairly and impartially. The highest court in the Dominican Republic is the Supreme Court of Justice, which is composed of 16 judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary.
The Dominican Republic has a multi-party political system, with several political parties competing for seats in Congress and the Presidency. Some of the major political parties include the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), and the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC).
However, like any democratic system, the Dominican Republic has faced challenges, including corruption and political polarization. In recent years, there have been protests and calls for reforms to address these issues and strengthen democratic institutions.
Leonardo Casci, Lawyer, Grupo Casci