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Guatemala

Republic of Guatemala

Civil lawUnitary presidential republicReviewed· 2026-08-02
Capital
Guatemala City
Population
17,600,000
Languages
Spanish, K'iche'
Currency
GTQ

Guatemala · Constitution

Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala

Approved by a Constituent Assembly on 31 May 1985 and in force from 14 January 1986, ending three decades of military rule. It created the Corte de Constitucionalidad and the Procurador de los Derechos Humanos, and entrenched amparo and exhibición personal. Articles 140 to 142 and the ban on presidential re-election are unamendable.

The constitutional text

Approved by a Constituent Assembly on 31 May 1985 and in force from 14 January 1986, ending three decades of military rule. It created the Corte de Constitucionalidad and the Procurador de los Derechos Humanos, and entrenched amparo and exhibición personal. Articles 140 to 142 and the ban on presidential re-election are unamendable.

Separation of powers

Unitary, with 22 departments run by governors the President appoints, and 340 autonomous municipalities. Indigenous authorities exercise recognised customary functions, and ILO Convention 169 has been ratified.

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