Bolivia's Electoral System: Presidential Or Parliamentary?

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a democratically elected government. The country's politics take place within a presidential representative democratic framework, with the president serving as both the head of state and the head of government. Bolivia's president is directly elected by the people for a five-year term, and the legislative branch is made up of two chambers: the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Senators. The country has a multi-party system, with numerous parties forming coalition governments.

Bolivia's presidential system

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. The country's politics take place within a presidential framework, where the president is the head of state and head of government, and head of a diverse multi-party system. Bolivia's current constitution, adopted in 2009, outlines the country's system of government and guarantees a secular state.

The president of Bolivia is directly elected by the people and serves a five-year term. To win the election, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of 50% of the vote or at least 40% of the vote with a 10% lead over the second-place candidate. If no candidate meets these requirements in the first vote, a runoff election is held between the top two candidates. The president is limited to a one-time consecutive reelection.

The legislative branch of Bolivia's government, known as the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, is bicameral and consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Senators. The Chamber of Deputies has 130 members, including seven special seats reserved for indigenous representatives. The Chamber of Senators has 36 members, with four senators representing each of the country's nine departments. Members of both chambers are directly elected by the people for five-year terms.

The executive branch in Bolivia is comprised of the president and their cabinet. The judiciary, which is independent of the executive and legislative branches, consists of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Plurinational Constitutional Court, the Judiciary Council, the Agrarian and Environmental Court, and various district and lower courts.

Bolivia's electoral system includes a period of prohibition before national elections to prevent intoxicated individuals from voting. Travel restrictions are also imposed during this period to prevent voters from casting ballots in multiple districts.

The role of the vice president

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. The country's politics take place within a presidential framework, where the president is the head of state and government. Bolivia's current constitution, adopted in 2009, outlines a unitary secular state.

The vice president of Bolivia is the second-highest political position in the country. The vice president assumes the presidency if the president dies, resigns, or is impeached and removed from office. They are also the first person in the presidential line of succession and replace the president in their definitive absence or if they are otherwise impeded. The vice president is also the ex officio President of the Legislative Assembly.

Since the office was established in 1826, 39 men have served as vice president. The current vice president is David Choquehuanca, who took office on 8 November 2020. Álvaro García Linera, the 38th vice president, was the last vice president of the Republic of Bolivia and the first vice president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.

David Choquehuanca, in his inaugural speech, emphasised the need for unity and dialogue. He highlighted the ancient cultural belief that everything is interconnected and that no one should be left behind. Choquehuanca also spoke of a transition occurring in Bolivia and the world, marking a new era in history. He advocated for a balance of power and a shift from selfish individualism to empathy and the collective good.

Álvaro García Linera, a sociologist and former guerrilla fighter, served as vice president from 2006 to 2019. Linera was an advocate for the nationalisation of Bolivia's hydrocarbon industry and defended the Law of the Rights of Mother Earth. He resigned in 2019 following the Bolivian protests, alongside President Evo Morales.

The National Congress

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. The country is divided into nine departments, 112 provinces, 327 municipalities, and 1,384 cantons. The Bolivian government is structured as a presidential representative democratic republic, with the president serving as the head of state, head of government, and head of a diverse multi-party system. Legislative power is vested in the government and the two chambers of parliament, collectively known as the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. The judiciary and the electoral branch operate independently of the executive and the legislature.

The Plurinational Legislative Assembly is the national legislature of Bolivia, based in La Paz, the country's administrative capital. It is a bicameral body, consisting of a lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, and an upper house, the Chamber of Senators. The Vice President of Bolivia serves as the ex officio President of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. Each house elects its own leadership, including a President, first and second Vice Presidents, and three or four Secretaries.

The Chamber of Senators has 36 seats, with four senators representing each of the nine departments. Senators are elected through proportional representation using the D'Hondt method, serving five-year terms. To be eligible for a seat in the Senate, individuals must be at least 35 years old.

The Chamber of Deputies consists of 130 seats. Seventy deputies are elected to represent single-member electoral districts, with seven of these seats reserved for Indigenous or Campesino representatives chosen by the usos y costumbres of minority groups. The remaining 63 deputies are elected through proportional representation from party lists on a departmental basis. Deputies also serve five-year terms and must be at least 25 years old at the time of their election.

The Chamber of Deputies

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. The country's national legislature is called the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, which is bicameral. The lower house of this assembly is the Chamber of Deputies (or Cámara de Diputados in Spanish). The Chamber of Deputies has 130 seats, with deputies serving five-year terms and needing to be at least 25 years old on the day of the election.

The 130 deputies are elected using the additional member system. Seventy deputies are elected to represent single-member electoral districts, with seven of these being Indigenous or Campesino seats elected by the usos y costumbres of minority groups. Sixty deputies are elected by proportional representation from party lists on a departmental basis. Party lists must alternate between men and women, and in the single-member districts, men must run with a female alternate and vice versa. At least 50% of the deputies from single-member districts must be women.

The Chamber of Senators

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. The country's national legislature is the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, which is bicameral. The upper house of this assembly is the Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores). The Chamber of Senators is the legislative body of the country, with each senator representing the interests of their departments. The session room is located in the Legislative Palace building in Plaza Murillo.

The Vice President of Bolivia also serves as the ex officio President of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. The President of the Chamber of Senators is the presiding officer of the upper chamber and is currently elected for a one-year term. Each house elects its own directorate: a President, first and second Vice Presidents, and three or four Secretaries. Each party has a seat, consisting of its legislators, and the representatives of each department comprise a brigade. Each house considers legislation in standing committees.

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