Portugal · Government
Government and administration in Portugal
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of State — President of the Republic
- Directly elected; can dissolve parliament and veto laws.
- Executive — Prime Minister and Government
- Accountable to the Assembly of the Republic.
- Legislative — Assembly of the Republic
- Single chamber of 230 members.
- Judicial — Ordinary and administrative courts plus the Constitutional Court
- Career judiciary.
How legislation is made
Laws are passed by the Assembly of the Republic and promulgated by the President, who may veto a bill or refer it to the Constitutional Court.
Enforcement institutions
- PSP and GNR
- The Public Security Police and National Republican Guard.
- Public Prosecution Service (Ministério Público)
- Independent prosecution service.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveInstitute of Registries and Notaries (IRN)Runs the civil, land, commercial and vehicle registries.
- executiveTax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira)Assesses and collects taxes and customs duties.
- executiveAgency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA)Decides residence, asylum and integration matters.
- independentOmbudsman (Provedor de Justiça)Defends citizens against unlawful administrative action.
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