Nicaragua · Government
Government and administration in Nicaragua
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Executive — President and Co-President
- Six-year term with no limit on re-election following the 2021 and 2024 reforms.
- Legislative — National Assembly
- 91 deputies, including outgoing President and runner-up seats.
- Judicial — Corte Suprema de Justicia
- Magistrates elected by the National Assembly.
- Electoral — Consejo Supremo Electoral
- A distinct fourth branch under the Constitution.
How legislation is made
Bills are approved in general and then article by article by the National Assembly. The President may veto in whole or part within 15 days; the Assembly overrides with an absolute majority of all deputies — a lower threshold than most of the region.
Enforcement institutions
- Ministerio Público
- Prosecution service headed by a Fiscal General elected by the Assembly.
- Policía Nacional
- Under direct presidential command since the 2014 reform.
- Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos
- Ombudsman elected by the National Assembly.
Government bodies and regulators
- judicialCorte Suprema de JusticiaHighest court organised in specialised chambers.
- executiveMinisterio PúblicoProsecution service exercising criminal action.
- legislativeAsamblea NacionalUnicameral legislature of 91 deputies.
- independentProcuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos HumanosHuman rights ombudsman elected by the National Assembly.
- independentConsejo Supremo ElectoralFourth branch of state under the Constitution.
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