Bolivia's Unique Administrative Divisions: Departments Over States

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. The country is divided into nine departments, which are the primary subdivisions of Bolivia and possess certain rights under the Constitution of Bolivia. Each department is represented in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Each department is further divided into provinces, municipalities, and cantons. The departments of Bolivia received greater autonomy under the Administrative Decentralization law of 1995, and departmental autonomy further increased with the first popular elections for departmental governors in 2005.

Bolivia's nine departments received greater autonomy under the Administrative Decentralization law of 1995

Bolivia is a unitary state made up of nine departments, which are the country's primary subdivisions and possess certain rights under the Constitution of Bolivia. Each department is represented in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, with four Senators each, and Deputies awarded in proportion to their total population.

The demand for regional autonomy has been a significant feature of Bolivia's political history, with the 1990s seeing the emergence of strong regional mobilisations that challenged state centralism. This demand for regional autonomy was crystallised in the 1990s during municipal decentralisation.

In 1995, the Administrative Decentralization law sought to define the decentralisation process at the departmental level, reconcentrating resources and responsibilities from the national level to the departmental prefectures. However, it's important to note that prefects continued to be appointed by the President of the Republic.

The approval of the 2009 Constitution and the territorial distribution of power it brought further deepened the decentralisation process. This new constitution provided for the potential autonomy of certain subdivisions, and the province of Gran Chaco has since voted to become an autonomous region.

Despite the decentralisation process, the autonomy of sub-national governments and administrations has been strongly influenced by the ruling party, the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), which has impacted the emergence of local leadership. Additionally, normative centralism, fiscal inequality, and a malfunctioning model of intergovernmental relations have also played a role in shaping the dynamics between the central government and sub-national entities.

Departments are the primary subdivisions of Bolivia and possess certain rights under the Constitution of Bolivia

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. It is divided into nine departments, which are the country's primary subdivisions. Each department is further divided into provinces, municipalities, and cantons. The departments are:

• Chuquisaca
• Cochabamba
• Beni
• La Paz
• Oruro
• Pando
• Potosi
• Santa Cruz
• Tarija

Each department has certain rights under the Constitution of Bolivia. They are represented in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Each department is represented by four Senators, while Deputies are awarded to each department in proportion to their total population.

The departments of Bolivia gained greater autonomy under the Administrative Decentralization law of 1995. This autonomy was further increased in 2005 when the first popular elections for departmental governors were held. Previously, governors were appointed by the President.

In addition to their political and administrative functions, the departments of Bolivia also have their own cultural and historical identities. Each department has its own unique history, traditions, and cultural heritage. They also vary in terms of geography, climate, and economic activities.

The departments of Bolivia are an important aspect of the country's governance and play a crucial role in representing the diverse regions and populations of the country.

Each department is represented in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly

Bolivia is a unitary state made up of nine departments, which are the country's primary subdivisions. Each of these departments is represented in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, the national legislature of Bolivia, which is based 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 serves as the ex officio President of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.

The Chamber of Senators has 36 seats, with each of the nine departments returning 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, with 70 deputies elected to represent single-member electoral districts, seven of which are Indigenous or Campesino seats elected by the usos y costumbres of minority groups, and 60 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.

The legislative body was previously known as the National Congress, but it was renamed as part of the adoption of a new constitution in 2009, which provides for the potential autonomy of certain subdivisions. The Assembly is currently in its third iteration, which began in November 2020 and will end in 2025. This marks the first time women make up the majority of the legislature as a whole, with 51.9% of parliamentarians being women.

The departments are divided into 112 provincias (provinces)

Bolivia is a unitary state made up of nine departments, which are the country's primary subdivisions. Each department is further divided into provinces, of which there are 112 in total. These 112 provincias are the second-largest administrative division in Bolivia.

The provinces are then subdivided into secciones de provincias (sections or subprovinces), which are further divided into 301 cantones (cantons). The 112 provincias are also subdivided into 337 municipalities, each administered by an alcalde and municipal council.

The departments were created in 1826, one year after Bolivia gained independence. This system replaced the previous subdivisions of four provinces, which were converted into departments. The current system is outlined in the Constitution of Bolivia, which was adopted in 2009.

The provinces are subdivided into secciones de provincias (sections or subprovinces)

Bolivia is a unitary state that consists of nine departments, which are the country's primary subdivisions. Each department is further divided into provinces, which are the second-largest administrative division in Bolivia. There are 112 provinces in total, which are overseen by subgovernors appointed by each department's governor. The provinces are then subdivided into secciones de provincias (sections or subprovinces), which are further divided into cantones (cantons). According to a 1995 book, there were 301 sections and 1,408 cantons.

The country's provinces are further divided into 337 municipalities, which are administered by an alcalde and a municipal council. The municipalities were previously thought to exist only in urban areas, but the 2012 census report showed that the sum of the populations of the municipalities equalled the total population of Bolivia.

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