Panamanian Government

Volume 1

July 2015
Background
Panama is a representative, constitutional
democracy
with
three
branches:
executive, legislative, and judicial branch.
Everyone over the age of 18 is required
to vote, but there is no penalty to those
who fail to do so.
In 1903, Panama became fully
independent from Columbia and in 1939,
they cease to be a United States
protectorate. It wasnt until 1972, the
constitution was adopted. For most of the
20th century, Panama was a
constitutional democracy. However, in
1968, the military was brought to power.
During the 1980s, Panamanian General
Manuel Noriega assumed control of the
government. After diplomatic and
economic pressure failed to remove
Noriega, U.S. president George Bush used
American troops to remove the dictator
from power and restore democracy in
1991 in a military operation known as
"Just Cause."

Executive
Branch
The
executive
branch is the top
branch
of
the
government. Those
who run to be elected are elected by
direct, secret vote for 5 year terms and
an independent appointed judiciary by a
simple majority vote. The president is
responsible for naming and separating
the ministries, coordinating the labor of

the
administration
of
the
public
establishments,
present
legislature
proposed by the National Assembly. The
vice president assumes the presidents
role should he be incapable, head the
cabinet even though he does not have a
vote, and represent the president in
national and international relations. There
is one president and two vice presidents.

Legislative Branch
The legislative branch is the next branch
below the executive branch. This branch
is also elected by direct, secret vote and
an independent appointed judiciary for 5
year terms as well. There are 72-member
unicameral Legislative Assembly. The
National Assembly has 45 members
elected
by
open-list
proportional
representation
in
multi
member
constituencies and 26 members elected
by plurality vote in single member
constituencies.

Judicial Branch
The judicial branch is organized under a
nine-member
Supreme
Court
and
includes all tribunals and municipal
courts. An autonomous Electoral Tribunal
supervises voter registration, the election
process,
and
the
activities of
political
parties. The
Supreme
Court
of
Justice
is
Current president:
Juan Carlos Varela

the highest court of last resort, and the

electoral
tribunal
supervises
voter
registration, the election process, and the
activities of political parties. The Supreme

Court
of
Justice
magistrates
are
appointed by the president. There are
elected for a suggested 10-year term.

Current Vice
President:
Isabel Saint
Malo