Venezuela is officially described as a federal presidential republic, where the President serves as both head of state and head of government, and there is a unicameral legislature known as the National Assembly. However, in practice, since the rise of Hugo Chávez and continuing under Nicolás Maduro, many observers have characterized the system as showing democratic backsliding and authoritarian features, with centralized power, weakened checks and balances, and contested elections. Key aspects of the formal structure
- Executive: President is elected by popular vote for a six-year term and can be re-elected (subject to constitutional changes and court rulings over time). The president appoints a cabinet and sets policy direction.
- Legislature: A unicameral National Assembly with deputies elected to set legislation and oversee the executive. The exact number of seats and term lengths have varied with constitutional reforms and electoral laws.
- Judiciary: A Supreme Court (and lower courts) whose composition and independence have been subjects of concern in relation to executive influence.
- Electoral and citizen power branches: Venezuela’s 1999 constitution created distinct branches intended to oversee elections (the Electoral Branch) and citizen oversight institutions (Attorney General, Ombudsman, Comptroller General).
Current governance considerations
- Since the late 1990s, constitutional changes and political developments have concentrated power within the executive and ruling coalition at times, with significant international debate about the fairness of elections and the state of democratic institutions.
- The ruling party and allied movements have maintained control over many state institutions, with recurrent disputes over legitimacy, governance, and human rights concerns raised by international observers and various governments.
If you’d like, I can pull up the latest country profile from reputable sources and summarize the current status with citations, or compare Venezuela’s government structure to other models.
