The Government in Portugal

The government of Portugal is a parliamentary representative democratic republic through which the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Jose Socrates, who assumed office in March of 2005, is the present prime minister. The current president is Anibal Cavaco Silva of the PSD Party who was elected in March 9, 2006. The 2 political parties that rule the national and regional government are PS, a Social Democratic Party and PSD, a conservative party and member of the European People’s Party.

The national government is generally divided into 4 main branches: Presidency; Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers; the Assembly of the Republic (Parliament); and the Judiciary. The President is elected for a 5-year term and is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He or she appoints the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. The President can also terminate the prime minister; veto legislation; suspend the assembly to call early elections; and proclaim a state of war or siege. The Council of State, an advisory assembly for the president, comprises of 6 senior civilian officers, any previous presidents elected under the 1976 constitution, 5 members selected by the assembly, and 5 chosen by the president. A unicameral body, the Assembly of the Republic is consisting of 230 deputies.

The Judiciary has sovereign over the executive and legislature. It composes of the Supreme Court, the court of last appeal and the Constitutional Court which has 9 members and reviews the constitutionality of enacted laws. Administrative, fiscal, and military courts are assigned as separate court categories.