Haiti

The three branches

Transitional executive — Conseil présidentiel de transition

Nine-member council established April 2024 exercising presidential functions pending elections.

Executive — Prime Minister and Cabinet

Appointed by the transitional council.

Legislative — Parlement (Chambre des Députés and Sénat)

Not sitting; terms expired without elections from January 2020.

Judicial — Cour de cassation and lower courts

Conseil supérieur du pouvoir judiciaire supervises the judiciary.

How legislation is made

Under the 1987 Constitution bills pass both chambers and are promulgated by the President, who may return a text once for reconsideration. With Parliament not sitting, measures have been issued as executive decrees since 2020 — a practice widely criticised as lacking constitutional foundation, and a key reason to check the current status of any recent instrument before relying on it.

Enforcement institutions

Police Nationale d'Haïti

The sole national police force; operating alongside the UN-authorised Multinational Security Support Mission.

Ministère de la Justice et de la Sécurité Publique

Responsible for courts administration and prisons.

Office de la Protection du Citoyen

The national human-rights ombudsman.

Unité de Lutte Contre la Corruption

Anti-corruption investigation unit.