Nicaragua Government Profile 2009

Overview of the Republic of Nicaragua's Political Structure

Mar 14, 2009

Nicaragua is a constitutional democracy located in Central America. It borders Honduras and Costa Rica and has fifteen departments, or states, and two autonomous regions.

The area was colonized in the early 16th century by Spain and , and was given independence from Spain on September 15ht, 1821. The country became a republic in 1838. The British controlled much of the Atlantic coast throughout the 19th century and gradually ceded power over the next decades. Nicaragua has a population of 5.7 million people. The official language of Nicaragua is Spanish, and people in the Autonomous regions speak mainly English and Miskito.

There are two autonomous regions in Nicaragua, which are Atlantico Norte, and Atlantico Sur. Both regions were granted autonomous status on October 30th, 1987. The Atlantico Norte has since been governed mainly by the Misquito Indian regional political party, or Yatama, and the Atlantico Sur by the Liberal Constitutionalist Party known also as the PLC.

Nicaraguan Constitution

In 1995 the 1987 Sandinista constitution was reformed because it gave too much powers to the president. The new constitution gave the National Assembly, or the legislative branch, more power including power to override a presidential veto with a simple majority vote and eliminating the president's ability to pocket-veto a bill. Nicaragua's constitution guarantees freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of religion, and free movement within the country, and outside the country. Citizens are also allowed to emigrate and repatriate, which wasn't allowed in previous administrations. The constitution also prohibits discrimination based on birth, nationality, political belief, race, gender, language, religion, opinion, national origin, and economic or social condition.

Nicaraguan Executive Branch

The current chief of state is President Daniel Ortega Saavedra. The Vice-President is Jaime Morales Carazo. The president and vice president serve five-year terms. Changes to the constitution in 2000 allowed for the president to be elected with 35% of the popular vote so long as there was a five percentage point difference between the first and second place candidates. Ortega and Carazo took office on January 10th 2007, and belong to the Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN. The FSLN is a political party that gathered to take back control for the people against the Somoza dictatorship. It overthrew the dictator in 1979, establishing a revolutionary government in its place. The FSLN led the country until 1990 when it lost to another political party, and just regained power with the last presidential elections.

Nicaraguan Legislative Branch

This branch of government, known as the National Assembly, is divided into ninety-two seats. Ninety members are elected by proportional representation and serve five year terms. The last two seats are reserved for the previous president and for the runner up in the previous presidential election. The last elections were held on November 5th 2006 and the next elections will be held in November 2011.

Nicaraguan Judicial Branch

Nicaragua has a Supreme Court with sixteen judges. Each judge holds office for five year terms and are appointed by the National Assembly. Nicaragua uses a civil law system and the Supreme Court also has the power to review administrative acts and accepts compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction. The Supreme Court supervises the functioning of the still largely ineffective, often partisan, and overburdened judicial system. In 2000, as part of the PLC-FSLN pact, the number or Supreme Court justices was increased from 12 to 16.

The main political parties are the Conservative Party (CV), the Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), the Nicaraguan Democratic Bloc (BDN), Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN), Sandinista national Liberation Front (FSLN), and the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS). Citizens of Nicaragua are allowed to vote at the age of sixteen and both men and women are granted the rite.

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