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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.