Guatemala Government Profile 2009
Overview of the Republic of Guatemala's Political Structure
Apr 2, 2009
Guatemala has a population of just over thirteen million inhabitants. The nation has won independence from Spain in 1821 though struggled during much of the 20th century to stabilize its government. The nation endured a thirty-six year civil war and lost over 100,000 people to gruesome violence against indigenous people and created over one million refugees. Guatemala drafted its constitution on may 31st, 1986 however it was suspended on May 25th 1993 by the former president Jorge Serrano during a hike in violence. When Serrano was ousted in June 1993 the constitution was reinstated. It was last amended in November 1993.
Guatemala has twenty two departments, or states.
- Alta Verapaz
- Baja Verapaz
- Chimaltenango
- Chiquimula
- El Progreso
- Escuintla
- Guatemala
- Huehuetenango
- Izabal
- Jalapa
- Jutiapa
- Peten
- Quetzaltenango
- Quiche
- Retalhuleu
- Sacatepequez
- San Marcos
- Santa Rosa
- Solola
- Suchitepequez
- Totonicapan
- Zacapa
Guatemalan Executive Branch
The current President is Alvaro Colom Caballeros. His vice president is Jose Rafael Espada. They came into office on January 14th 2008. The president and vice president are elected by popular vote for four-year terms and may not serve consecutive terms. Colom is under extreme pressure to better human rights in the nation. Basic human rights have been denied to most of the indigenous population, with the majority of its indigenous having been slaughtered during the violence of the 90's. He is working with Human Right's groups and the government to help bring to justice those who have committed terrible crimes during the height of violence. As of January 2009, ninety-eight percent of the heinous crimes remain in impunity, or unpunished. Such crimes include torturing and killing innocent men, women, and children in cold blood. While the violence was mainly aimed at the indegenous, it also spilled over into the mestizo population and into neighboring countries.
Guatemalan Legislative Branch
Guatemala has a unicameral congress with 158 seats. Members of congress are elected by popular vote and serve four-year terms. The next election will be held in September 2011 along with the presidential election.
Guatemalan Judicial Branch
Guatemala's highest court is the Constitutional Court which holds five judges which serve concurrent five-year terms. The Supreme Court of Justice in Guatemala holds thirteen members which all serve concurrent five-year terms. They elect their own president of the Court annually. The president of the Supreme Court of Justice supervises trials around the country which each serve for five-year terms also.
Political Parties in Guatemala
Center of Social Action (CASA), Democracy Front (FRENTE), Democratic Union (UD), Encounter for Guatemala (EG), Grand National Alliance (GANA), Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), National Advancement Party (PAN), National Unity for Hope (UNE), Nationalist Change Union (UCN), patriot Party (PP), Unionista Party (PU).
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