The politics of Bolivia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president is head of state, head of government and head of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Overview

Bolivia's 1967 constitution, revised in 1994, provides for balanced executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The traditionally strong executive, however, tends to overshadow the National Congress.

Executive Branch

President
Evo Morales
Movement Towards Socialism (MAS)
22 January 2006
-
Vice President
Álvaro García Linera
Movement for Socialism (MAS)
22 January 2006

The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote. In the case that no candidate receives an absolute majority of the popular vote, congress will elect the president from among the two candidates most voted.

Hence, Hugo Banzer Suárez was elected president in 1997. Although no candidate had received more than 50% of the popular vote in the national election, Banzer won a congressional runoff election on 5 August, 1997 after forming the so-called "megacoalition" with other parties. He resigned in August 2001 and was substituted by his vicepresident Jorge Fernando Quiroga. In August, 2002 the winner of the national election Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada was chosen president by Congress, winning an 84-43 vote against popular vote runner-up Evo Morales. Elected president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada resigned in October 2003, and was substituted by vice-president Carlos Mesa who governed the nation until his resignation in June 2005. He was replaced by chief justice of the Supreme Court Eduardo Rodríguez, acting as caretaker president. Six months later, on December 18, 2005, cocalero leader Evo Morales was elected president.

Legislative branch

The bicameral National Congress ("Congreso Nacional") consists of the Chamber of Senators ("Cámara de Senadores") (27 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies ("Cámara de Diputados") (130 seats; 68 are directly elected from their districts and 62 are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms).

Judicial branch

The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Tribunal, the Judiciary Council, and District (departmental) and lower courts.

* Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges appointed for 10-year terms by National Congress
* District Courts (one in each department)
* Provincial and local courts

Local government

Bolivia is divided in nine departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija. Bolivia's nine departments received greater autonomy under the Administrative Decentralization law of 1995. Departmental autonomy further increased with the first popular elections for departmental governors, known as prefects, on 18 December 2005. s are governed by directly elected mayors and councils. Municipal elections were held on 5 December 2004, with councils elected to five-year terms. The Popular Participation Law of April 1994, which distributes a significant portion of national revenues to municipalities for discretionary use, has enabled previously neglected communities to make striking improvements in their facilities and services.

Political parties and elections

Other parties include:

* Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB – Romel Pantoja
* Civic Solidarity Union or UCS – Johnny Fernández
* Free Bolivia Movement or MBL – Franz Barrios
* Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or VIMA – Freddy Zabala
* Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR – Jaime Paz Zamora
* Movement Without Fear or MSM – Juan Del Granado
* Nationalist Democratic Action or ADN –
* Socialist Party or PS – Jerjes Justiniano

Social movements

Some of Bolivia's social movements are:
* Cocalero Groups – Evo Morales
* "El Alto" Social Movements Roberto De La Cruz
* indigenous organization: Aymara Indigenous Confederate Movements Felipe Quispe
* "El Alto" FEJUVE Abel Mamani
* labor unions
* Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB – Roman Loayza
* Autonomic Oriental Party

International affairs

International organization participation:

CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

References

*factbook
*StateDept

See also

*History of Bolivia
*List of presidents of Bolivia