Chile · Government
Government and administration in Chile
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Executive — President of the Republic
- Four-year term with no immediate re-election.
- Legislative — National Congress
- Chamber of Deputies (155) and Senate (50), sitting in Valparaíso.
- Judicial — Judiciary headed by the Supreme Court
- The Supreme Court administers and disciplines the lower courts.
- Autonomous — Contraloría General, Ministerio Público, Banco Central
- Constitutionally autonomous audit, prosecution and monetary bodies.
How legislation is made
Bills originate with the President or in either chamber, though tax, budget and social-security bills are the President's exclusive initiative — an unusually strong executive agenda power. Both chambers must approve; a mixed committee resolves conflict. The President may veto, overridden by two-thirds. Constitutional amendment needs four-sevenths of sitting members, with two-thirds for certain entrenched chapters.
Enforcement institutions
- Ministerio Público (Fiscalía de Chile)
- Autonomous prosecution service created by the 2000 criminal-procedure reform.
- Carabineros de Chile and Policía de Investigaciones
- Uniformed and investigative police, both national.
- Contraloría General de la República
- Audits the administration and reviews the legality of decrees.
Government bodies and regulators
- judicialTribunal Constitucional de ChileReviews the constitutionality of bills and statutes.
- judicialPoder Judicial de ChileAdministers the courts and provides electronic access to proceedings.
- independentMinisterio Público — Fiscalía de ChileAutonomous body directing criminal investigation and prosecution.
- executiveServicio de Impuestos InternosAdministers internal taxes and the taxpayer registry.
- executiveServicio Nacional de MigracionesAdministers visas, residence and naturalisation.
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