Holy See (Vatican City) · Government
Government and administration in Holy See (Vatican City)
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of State — The Supreme Pontiff (Pope)
- Holds full sovereign power.
- Executive — Governorate of Vatican City State
- Administers the State under a President.
- Legislative — Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
- Issues laws in the Pope’s name.
- Judicial — Vatican tribunals
- Apply canon and Vatican law.
How legislation is made
Laws are prepared by the Pontifical Commission and take effect with the Pope’s approval, published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis supplement.
Enforcement institutions
- Corpo della Gendarmeria
- Vatican police and security force.
- Office of the Promoter of Justice
- Vatican prosecutor.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveGovernorate of Vatican City StateAdministers the territory and services of the State.
- independentSupervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF)Supervises financial activity and combats money laundering.
- executiveAdministration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA)Administers the property and investments of the Holy See.
- executiveLabour Office of the Apostolic See (ULSA)Administers employment conditions for personnel of the Apostolic See.
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