Approved in the plebiscite of September 11, 1980, the Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile - the tenth constitutional text in Chilean history -has governed the country since March 11, 1981. Since 1989, it has been reformed fifteen times.
The executive branch or, more properly, the government and public administration, is headed by the President of the Republic, who is the head of state and government. Since March 2014, this position has been held by Michelle Bachelet. According to the Constitution, the president remains in office for a term of 4 years and cannot be reelected for the following period.
The President of the Republic appoints the Ministers of State, who are his direct and immediate collaborators in the government and administration of the State and officials of his exclusive confidence.
The internal government of each region is vested in the intendant, who is appointed by the president and is his natural and immediate representative in such territory. The regional administration is the responsibility of the regional governments, which are composed of the respective intendant and an indirectly elected regional council. In turn, the government of the provinces is in charge of the corresponding governor, also appointed by the president. Local administration is the responsibility of the municipalities, which are composed of a mayor and a communal council, elected by popular vote.
The legislative power is vested in the President of the Republic and in the National Congress, headquartered in Valparaíso, which is bicameral and consists of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. The Senate is formed by 38 senators elected by popular vote who remain in office for 8 years, with the possibility of being reelected in their respective constituencies, which elect two senators in each election; every 4 years half of the senators are renewed in regular parliamentary elections. The Chamber of Deputies is composed of 120 members elected by popular vote, who remain in office for 4 years and may also be reelected in their respective districts, which elect two deputies in each election, in which the entire chamber is renewed.
For parliamentary elections, the binominal system has been used since 1989, which has allowed the establishment of two majority political blocs -the current Nueva Mayoría and Alianza-at the expense of the exclusion of non-majority political groups. Opponents of this system established by the 1980 Constitution are calling for a change.
The judiciary, made up of autonomous and independent courts exercising jurisdictional power, has the Supreme Court of Justice as its highest institution. In addition, there is an autonomous and hierarchical Public Prosecutor's Office, which exclusively directs the criminal investigation and, likewise, exercises public criminal action.
A Constitutional Court, autonomous and independent, controls the constitutionality of bills, decrees and laws. Likewise, an autonomous Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic exercises control over the legality of the acts of the public administration and audits the income and investment of public funds.
An Election Qualifying Tribunal and thirteen regional electoral tribunals ensure the regularity of the electoral processes carried out in the country and compliance with their provisions.
Source: Wikipedia