Politics in Bolivia

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The Republic of Bolivia is a democratic republic, with a president, congress and an independent legislative branch. Bolivia’s most recent constitution was written in 1967 and overhauled in 1994. The president, head of the executive branch, is elected to a five-year term, although historically Bolivian heads of state do not always finish their terms (Bolivia has had six presidents since 2001).

The legislative branch is formed by two houses, a 27-seat Senate and a 130 seat House of Representatives. Like the president, senators and representatives are elected to five-year terms. The Judicial branch consists of a supreme court, nominated to ten-year terms by the congress, and a number of lower courts.

As of 2005, Bolivian politics are firmly in the hands of president Evo Morales, who was elected with a roughly 2 to 1 margin over his nearest opponent. His Movement towards Socialism party also controls congress.