V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 3
WHAT ’ S THE GOVERNMENT LIKE ?
Paraguay is a constitutional Rebublic that derived from a democratic constitution so it splits up into three different branches , judicial , legislative , and executive . Executive Branch : The president is elected to a five-year term and serves as both chief of state and head of government . The president chooses a Council of Ministers made up of 18 members to watch over the government ministries . The president has the power to initiate legislation as well as veto it . Neither the president nor the vice president may be reelected . Legislative Branch : The Senate and Chamber of Deputies compose the bicameral legislative branch of the government . The Senate consists of 45 members elected by a national popular vote to serve five-year terms . The 80-member Chamber of Deputies is elected through a departmental vote . Legislative elections happen at the same time as the presidential election .
Judicial Branch : Paraguay ’ s constitution serves as an independent judiciary . The Supreme Court of Justice serves as the country ’ s highest court . Nine judges serve on the Supreme Court . Below the Supreme Court , there are five appellate courts : civil and commercial , criminal , labor , administrative , and juvenile . The lowest levels are minor courts and justices of the
peace . Any person convicted of a crime at the minor court level may appeal to an appellate court and then to the Supreme Court . The president and the Congress have the responsibility of appointing judges . Paraguay ’ s military has its own court system .