Bolivia's Government: Limited Or Unlimited?

Bolivia is a democratic republic with a directly elected president at the head of the state and government, and a diverse multi-party system. The country's current constitution, adopted in 2009, defines Bolivia as a unitary plurinational and secular state. The government is divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches, with the latter being independent of the former two. Bolivia's multi-party system has witnessed a variety of parties in the presidency and parliament, with the Movement for Socialism (MAS) currently being the majority political party.

Bolivia's government structure

Bolivia is a unitary plurinational and secular state with a presidential representative democratic republic framework. The president is directly elected by popular vote to a five-year term and holds executive power. The president is 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: the Chamber of Senators (36 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (130 seats). The judiciary, which includes the Supreme Court of Justice, the Plurinational Constitutional Court, the Judiciary Council, and other courts, is independent of the executive and legislative branches.

The country is divided into 9 departments, 112 provinces, 327 municipalities, and 1,384 cantons. Each municipality has a municipal council and a mayor, with councilpersons elected by universal, direct, and secret suffrage. Mayors are chosen by an absolute majority of valid votes, and if no candidate obtains an absolute majority, the municipal council selects between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.

Bolivia has over 30 official languages and 36 native cultures, with Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara being the most commonly spoken.

Presidential powers

Bolivia is a presidential republic, with the president as the head of state, head of government, and captain-general of the Armed Forces. The president is directly elected by the people of Bolivia to a five-year term and can be re-elected indefinitely.

The president of Bolivia holds executive power and is also the leader of the diverse multi-party system. The president can be elected in two ways. First, a candidate can win an absolute majority of the votes. Second, if no candidate receives more than 40% of the votes, a candidate can win by receiving 40% and having a 10% lead over the second-place candidate. If neither of these conditions is met, a run-off election is held between the top two candidates.

The president of Bolivia has broad powers, including the ability to appoint a successor during the country's early years. The president also has the power to form megacoalitions with other parties, as demonstrated by former President Hugo Banzer, who won a congressional runoff election in 1997 through this method. Additionally, the president can grant others the title of Acting President when temporarily incapacitated or absent from the country.

The current president of Bolivia is Luis Arce, who assumed office on November 8, 2020.

Legislative powers

Bolivia is a presidential representative democratic republic. The country's legislative powers are vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament: the Chamber of Senators (also known as the Senate) and the Chamber of Deputies.

The Chamber of Senators has 36 members, who are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms. The Chamber of Deputies has 130 members, 70 of whom are directly elected from a single district, 7 are directly elected from non-contiguous indigenous districts, and 53 are elected by proportional representation from party lists. Deputies are elected for four-year terms, with the entire membership facing election every fourth year.

The legislature is responsible for passing, abrogating, interpreting, and modifying laws. A bill must be passed by the legislature and signed by the president to become a law. Although the president may veto a bill, Congress may override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

The legislature also has a range of other powers, including the right to establish the monetary system, approve economic policy, approve treaties and international agreements, decide when Bolivian troops may travel abroad, name justices of the Supreme Court, and create new provinces, cantons, and municipal districts.

The legislative branch of the Bolivian government is currently organised as the 3rd Plurinational Legislative Assembly, which convened in November 2020 and will remain in place until 2025.

Independence and democracy

Bolivia's independence was achieved after centuries of Spanish colonial rule. The struggle for independence started in 1809, led by Simon Bolivar, and ended in 1825, involving numerous battles and deaths. Bolivar's efforts gained followers every day, and he liberated Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador before turning his sights on Peru and Upper Peru (modern-day Bolivia). Bolivar's forces crossed into Bolivia in late 1823, and on December 9, 1824, they defeated the royalist army in the Battle of Ayacucho. The remaining royalist forces were easily defeated, and on April 9, 1825, the last military obstacle was overcome, marking the end of Spanish rule in South America.

Following independence, Bolivar led Bolivia on the path to democracy and independence. Bolivia's first constitution was created, and the country was named after Bolivar, honouring the aristocrat-turned-liberator. Bolivar stepped down, and fellow war hero Antonio Jose de Sucre became the second president of Bolivia.

Bolivia's current constitution was adopted via referendum in 2009, establishing a unitary secular state with a mixed economy of state, private, and communal ownership. The constitution also addresses issues such as restricted private land ownership and recognition of various autonomies at the local and departmental levels.

Bolivia is a presidential representative democratic republic, with the president serving as the head of state, government, and a diverse multi-party system. The president is directly elected by popular vote to a five-year term. Executive power is exercised by the government, while legislative power is vested in the government and the two chambers of parliament. The judiciary and the electoral branch are independent of the executive and the legislature, with the Supreme Court exercising legal power and upholding the constitution.

Bolivia exhibits mid-range performance in democracy, with significant declines in personal integrity, security, and civil society over the past five years. Despite transitioning to democracy in 1982, issues such as poverty, social inequality, and the marginalization of Indigenous and Afro-Bolivian populations remain unresolved. However, Bolivia has made important progress in women's participation, with the 2009 Constitution establishing equality and one of the highest rates of female representation in parliament globally.

The constitution

The current Constitution of Bolivia, adopted in 2009, defines the country as a unitary plurinational and secular state. It establishes a mixed economy of state, private, and communal ownership, with restrictions on private land ownership. The constitution also recognises various autonomies at the local and departmental level.

The National Congress is the main legislative body of government, with the lower house being the Chamber of Deputies and the upper house being the Senate. The 36 members of the Senate are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms. The Chamber of Deputies has 130 members, with 70 directly elected from a single district, 7 directly elected from non-contiguous indigenous districts, and 53 elected by proportional representation from party lists.

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