Organization

Argentina is a Federal Republic made up of 23 Provinces (States) and the autonomous city of Buenos Aires (Capital City). The Constitution establishes the division of central government into three branches.

Provincial constitutions establish their own forms of government within their own jurisdictions, and these are in general similar to those of the Nation.

Cabinet ministers are appointed by the president.

The constitutional system included the creation of a senior coordinating minister to serve under the president and the popular election of the mayor of the city of Buenos Aires.

Executive Branch.

This branch is led by the President of the Republic, chosen directly by the popular vote. The revised 1994 constitution reduced the presidential term to four years, allowed the president to seek a second consecutive term, allowed the president for executive participation in drawing up legislation, as well as the execution of laws and assigned some formerly presidential powers to the legislature. The president serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Legislative Branch.

The organization of the legislature of Argentina is similar to that of the United States. The National Congress consists of a lower chamber, the 257-member House of Representatives, and an upper chamber, the 72-member Senate. Representatives are elected directly to four-year terms by a system of proportional representation. Each province elects three senators to six-year terms. Two of these senators are directly elected and the third represents the province’s largest minority party. Three senators represent the city of Buenos Aires.

Judicial Branch.

Federal courts include the Supreme Court, 17 appellate courts, and district and territorial courts on the local levels. The provincial court systems are similarly organized, comprising supreme, appellate, and lower courts.

The president appoints members of the Supreme Court with the consent of the Senate. Other federal judges are appointed by a special judicial commission. The Supreme Court has the power, first asserted in 1854, to declare legislative acts unconstitutional.