Country Study of Dominican Republic

Country Study of Dominican Republic

Political Overview

( Structure of government

The system of governance in the Dominican Republic is that of a presidential democratic republic. The president is both the head of state and the head of the government. A vice-president is also elected along with the president for a four-year term. The power of the vice-president comes to the fore when the president dies, or is unable to carry out his role or when he is on an official visit abroad. In the case of the first two scenarios, the vice-president serves until the next scheduled election. [1]

( Government branches (explain role and responsibilities)

The House of Representatives is dominated by PLD after May 2010 elections, as the party won 105 seats, followed by PRD with 75 and PRSC managing only three seats.

Since 2005, the authorities in the Dominican Republic have been undertaking widespread reforms, especially with assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The reforms encompass revision of the tax rates, tight monetary policy measures, strengthening of the state institutions including the central bank, fiscal consolidation and reviving the indebted electricity sector. [2]

Executive Branch:

Chief of state and head of government:

President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (first won election in May 2004, re-elected in May 2008)

Elections:

Last held May 2008 (held every four years); the candidates in contention are: Leonel Fernandez (Domincan Liberation Party, DLP), Miguel Vargas Maldonado (Dominican Revolutionary Party, DRP), Amable Aristy Castro (Social Christian Reformist Party, SCRP), and other independent candidates. [3]

Election results:

Leonel FERNANDEZ elected president with 53 perent: Vargas had 40 percent; with Fernandez winning over 50 percent, a run-off was avoided.

Cabinet:

Appointed by the president

Legislative Branch:

Bicameral "Congreso Nacional" (National Congress):

Consists of the "Senado" (Senate) and the "Cámara de Diputados" (Chamber of Deputies).

"Senado" (Senate):

32 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms.

"Cámara de Diputados" (Chamber of Deputies):

183 seats (changed from 178 seats); members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms.

( Number of Administrative Districts (no need to identify each one)

The Dominican Republic is segregated into 31 Administrative Districts or provinces, whereas Santo Domingo (the national capital) is included in its own Distrito Nacional.

( Major political parties (leadership, ideology, membership, role within the government)

1. Dominican Liberation Party (PLD)

The Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) is one of the main parties and is presently the ruling political party in the Dominican Republic. PLD was founded in 1973 as a leftist party, although in recent times it has started embracing neo-liberal policies transforming it into a center-right party. Leonel Fernandez, who is the party president, is currently the president of the Dominican Republic and is serving his third term. The party, along with five other smaller parties, has formed an alliance called the Progressive Bloc. The parties that constitute the bloc have diverse political agendas, ranging from socialism to liberalism. Since the 2006 elections to the Senate, the PLD now has control over both houses of the parliament. In the last held elections to the lower house in May 2010, the PLD-led progressive block ...