Where Bolivia's Judiciary Branch Resides

Bolivia's judicial branch of government is located in Sucre, the country's constitutional capital. The Supreme Court of Bolivia is based in the city, which is also known as La Plata and Chuquisaca. Sucre is one of two governmental centres in Bolivia, the other being La Paz, where the executive and legislative branches are located.

The Supreme Court of Bolivia is located in Sucre

Sucre holds major national importance and is an educational and government centre. The city has a predominantly Quechua background, with some Aymara communities and influences. Sucre is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia.

The Supreme Court of Bolivia is the highest instance of ordinary jurisdiction. It is composed of 12 judges or ministros, organised into civil, penal, social, and administrative chambers. Justices are chosen by Congress and perform their functions for a six-year term. The President of the Court, or Supreme Justice, is chosen by a two-thirds vote of the members of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court was established on 16 July 1827. Its current building is designed in the neoclassical style under the canons of French academicism and was inaugurated on 25 May 1945.

Sucre is the constitutional capital of Bolivia

Sucre was first established as a city under colonial rule in 1538. During this time, the South American continent was divided into viceroyalties, large areas administered by a viceroy. King Philip II founded the Audiencia de Charcas (the Royal Audience of Charcas) in Sucre as part of the Viceroyalty of Peru. It remained part of this viceroyalty until 1776 when it became part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Bolivia won its independence in 1825 and in 1826, Sucre was named the provisional capital. In 1839, it became the official capital.

Today, Sucre is the only constitutionally recognized capital of Bolivia. However, the only branch of government administered from the city is the judicial branch. The Supreme Court of Bolivia is located in Sucre.

Sucre holds major national importance and is an educational and government centre. Its pleasant climate and low crime rates have made the city popular among foreigners and Bolivians alike. Notably, Sucre contains one of the best-preserved Hispanic colonial and republican historic city centres in the Western Hemisphere. This architectural heritage and the millenarian history of the Charcas region have led to Sucre's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The government of the City of Sucre is divided into executive and legislative branches. The Mayor of Sucre is the executive head of the city government, elected for a term of five years by general election. The legislative branch consists of the Municipal Council, which elects a President, Vice President and Secretary from a group of eleven members.

The seat of the Bolivian executive branch is in La Paz

Bolivia's seat of government is La Paz, where the executive branch is located. The country's legislative and electoral branches are also based in the city. However, the constitutional capital of Bolivia is Sucre, which is the seat of the judiciary.

La Paz is home to the Presidential Palace, also known as the Palacio Quemado (Burnt Palace), which has served as the official residence of the President of Bolivia. The palace was built in 1853 and was set ablaze in 1875 when rebels tried to storm it. It has been rebuilt and redecorated several times since then. In 2018, the official residence of the president was moved to the Casa Grande del Pueblo (Great House of the People), which also houses various government ministries.

The executive branch is headed by the President of Bolivia, who is both the head of state and the head of government. The president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term and can be re-elected consecutively only once. The current president is Luis Arce, who assumed office on November 8, 2020.

The executive branch consists of a variable number of government ministries, currently 20, and is responsible for governing the country. The President of Bolivia governs from the Presidential Palace in La Paz and has significant power, often overshadowing the legislative branch.

The Plurinational Legislative Assembly is in La Paz

The Plurinational Legislative Assembly is the national legislature of Bolivia, located in La Paz, the country's seat of government. The assembly is bicameral, consisting of a lower house (the Chamber of Deputies) and an upper house (the Chamber of Senators). The Vice President of Bolivia also serves as the ex officio President of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.

The legislative body was previously known as the National Congress. The two chambers of Congress meet in the legislative palace, which is located on Plaza Murillo, La Paz's main city-centre square. The square is also flanked by the presidential palace and the cathedral of Nuestra Señora de La Paz. The legislative palace was previously a convent and a university.

Each house elects its own directorate: a President, first and second Vice Presidents, and three or four Secretaries. Each party is said to have a seat consisting of its legislators. The representatives of each department comprise a brigade. Each house considers legislation in standing committees.

The Chamber of Senators has 36 seats. Each of the country's nine departments returns four senators elected by proportional representation. Senators are elected from party lists to serve five-year terms, and the minimum age to hold a Senate seat is 35 years.

The Chamber of Deputies comprises 130 seats, elected using a mixed compensatory system. 70 deputies are elected to represent single-member electoral districts, and 60 are elected from party lists on a departmental basis. Deputies also serve five-year terms, and must be aged at least 25 on the day of the election. Party lists are required to alternate between men and women, and in the single-member districts, men are required to run with a female alternate, and vice versa. At least 50% of the deputies from single-member districts are required to be women.

While the executive and legislative branches of the government are in La Paz, the constitutional capital of Bolivia is Sucre, where the head office of the judicial branch is located.

Bolivia's judicial branch is made up of several courts

In addition to these courts, the judicial branch also includes the Real Estate Registration Office, public notaries, supervising judges, and civil servants, although these entities do not have jurisdiction. The Supreme Court is located in Sucre, and it serves as the highest tribunal within the judicial branch. The Supreme Court is composed of 12 Justices who are elected by public vote and serve six-year terms. The requirements for becoming a Justice of the Supreme Court are established in the Bolivian Constitution, including the need for a Bolivian law degree and at least ten years of legal experience.

The Constitutional Court is also part of the judicial branch and is based in Sucre. It has national jurisdiction and is composed of five magistrates and five substitutes who are designated by Congress for ten-year terms. The Constitutional Court is responsible for ensuring that all acts, resolutions, and decisions of the government are in line with the Constitution. Another court within the judicial branch is the Environmental Court, which has jurisdiction over conflicts related to rural property, environmental issues, forestry, and the use of renewable natural resources.

The judicial system in Bolivia dispenses justice in three jurisdictions: ordinary, environmental, and indigenous. The ordinary jurisdiction is handled by the Supreme Court, while the environmental and indigenous jurisdictions operate at the same level. The Indigenous Jurisdiction allows indigenous communities to resolve disputes within their justice system, provided that constitutional rights and guarantees are respected.

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