Costa Rica is a democratic republic which has had over 59 years of uninterrupted democracy making Costa Rica one of the most stable countries in Latin America.  Costa Rica’s Constitution guarantees all citizens and foreigners equality before the law, the right to own property, the right of petition and assembly, freedom of speech, and the right to habeas corpus.

The Costa Rica government consist of 3 powers:  a President with executive responsibilities, a Legislative  Assembly with legislative powers, and a Supreme Court with judicial power.  There are 2 vice presidents and a cabinet designated by the president.  Elections are held every 4 years to elect the president, vice presidents, and 57 legislative assembly delegates.  Presidents and delegates are limited to one term, but delegates are allowed to run again for the assembly after sitting out one term.  In 2003 the constitutional amendment ban on presidential re-election was reversed.  This allowed Oscar Arias, Nobel Peace Prize winner and president from 1986-1990, to run for president again in 2006.  He won running on a platform of promoting free trade.

The Executive power in Costa Rican government, comprised of the president, 2 vice-presidents, and the ministers of the cabinet, is called the Government Council.  The Legislative power of the Legislative Assembly is composed of 57 members elected by proportional population representation.  The Assembly has the power to amend the President’s budget and to appoint the Comptroller General whose responsibilities include checking public expenditures and preventing the Executive Power from overspending.

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly appoints the Supreme Court judges, who have a minimum term of 8 years.  If they are not voted out by the Legislative Assembly, the Supreme Court judges are automatically reappointed.  The 24 judges that serve on the Supreme Court select the judges for civil and penal courts. The Supreme Court is divided into 4 chambers:  Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and 2 dealing with Civil/ Merchant Law.

Costa Rica is composed of 7 provinces:  Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, Guanacaste, and San Jose(Costa Rica’s capital).  Each province is ruled by a governor who is appointed by the President.  The provinces are subdivided into 81 cantons which are directed by a mayor elected every 4 years by the citizens.  The cantons are further divided into 421 districts.

The state monopoly on insurance and telecommunications were opened to private-sector competition in 2009. Other state agencies that have considerable operational independence and autonomy are the nationalized commercial banks (which have competition from private banks), the electrical power company, and the social security agency.

Costa Rica Government Statistics:

Name of country:
Republic of Costa Rica
Type of government:
Democratic republic
Independence:
15, September 1821
Constitution:
7, November 1949
Subdivisions of Costa Rica:
7 provinces, 81 cantons, 421 districts
Government branches:
Executive: 1 president (4 year term), 2 vice presidents, 22 cabinet members
Legislative: 57 deputy legislative assembly members (4 year terms)
Judicial: 22 magistrates Supreme Court of Justice (8 year term)
President:
Oscar Arias Sanchez
Capital City:
San Jose