Politics of the Dominican Republic

Government of the Dominican Republic takes place in a framework of a representative democracy, whereby the President of the Dominican Republic is both head of state, head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the National Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Political Culture

Independence Politics

With the proclamation of the first constitution in the Dominican Republic on 6 November 1844 in the city of San Cristobal, the Dominican 'independence politics' theory was formed. The Dominican Republic would remain for the most part republican and representative.

The constitution of San Cristobal established the legislature as superior to the other branches, the judiciary as an independent and the Executive to run the state day-to-day under the oversight of the judiciary and the legislature.

The Congress of the Dominican Republic consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

The President of the Republic was presented as an impartial public figure that would provide a source of unity to the Republic.

Executive branch

The Executive is charged with the daily administration of the state, subject to the oversight of the judicial and legislative branches. The President functions as the head of state, the head of government, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Dominican Armed Forces.

The Dominican Cabinet is responsible for assisting the president in his duty to govern the nation and the President appoints ministers as he sees appropriate.

The President and Vice President are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term without immediate re-election. After at least one constitutional term, a person who has held the post of President before may run for this Office again, according to the last amendment made to the Constitution in 2010. Elections are held in years evenly divisible by four.

The Dominican Constitution takes twenty-seven paragraphs to spell out the president's extensive powers. Among the most important are those that grant him authority over virtually all appointments and removals of public officials, and even popular elected ones; empower him to promulgate the laws passed by Congress; direct him to engage in diplomatic relations; and empower him to command, to deploy, and to make appointments in, the armed forces. The president also has vast emergency powers to suspend basic rights in times of emergency, to defer the legislature, to declare a state of siege, and to rule by decree.

The 1966 Constitution provides for ministers and subcabinet ministers to assist in public administration. These officials must be Dominican citizens, at least twenty-five years of age, with full civil and political rights. The powers of the ministers are determined by law. However, the president is constitutionally responsible for the actions of his ministers. Ministers serve at the president's discretion, and function both as administrators of their ministries and as agents of presidential authority.

Military

The military consists of about 45,000 active duty personnel. Its principal mission is to defend the nation, but it serves more as an internal security force. The army, twice as large as the other services combined, consists of four infantry brigades and a combat support brigade; the air force operates three flying squadrons; and the navy maintains 30 aging vessels. The Dominican Republic's military is second in size to Cuba's in the Caribbean.

The armed forces participate fully in counter-narcotics efforts. They also are active in efforts to control contraband and illegal immigration from Haiti to the Dominican Republic and from the Dominican Republic to the United States and Puerto Rico.

Legislative branch

Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la República). The upper house is the Senate (Senado) with 32 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat constituencies. The lower house is the Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) with 178 members, elected for a four-year term by proportional representation in accordance to each province, as follows: one deputy is elected for every 50,000 inhabitants plus fraction exceeding 25,000, but never less than two.

Among the attributions of the Senate are the following:

Congressional and municipal elections are held separately from the presidential elections. Re-election is always possible, without any limitation. The office of Senator and Deputy are incompatible with any other position or employment at the Public Administration.

Judicial branch

The Judicial Power is charged of administering justice in order to ensure the respect, protection and supervision of rights recognized under the Constitution and laws. Its higher organ is the Supreme Court of Justice, which is composed of 16 judges appointed by the National Council of Magistrates, an entity created by the constitutional reform of 1994 to ensure the independence of the Judicial Branch.

The National Council of Magistrates is nominated by the three major political parties. It is presided by the President of the Republic and has the following members:

The Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts (as a Court of Cassation) and chooses members of lower courts. It has sole jurisdiction over actions against the President, designated members of his cabinet, and members of Congress. It has administrative and financial autonomy.

Apart from working as an appeals court for all judgments rendered by judicial courts, the Supreme Court supervises all judges in the Dominican territory. Its judicial and administrative functions may be summarized as follows:

Municipal government and administrative divisions

Each of the 31 provinces is headed by a presidentially appointed governor. People-elected mayors and municipal councils administer the National District (Santo Domingo) and the 103 municipal districts.

The Dominican Republic has 31 provinces (provincias) and one National District* (Distrito Nacional): Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabón, Duarte, El Seibo, Elías Piña, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, María Trinidad Sánchez, Monseñor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Hermanas Mirabal, Samaná, Sánchez Ramírez, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, Santiago Rodríguez, Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, and Valverde.

Recent political history

The Dominican Republic has a multi-party political system with national elections every four years. In two rounds of presidential elections in 1996, nearly 80% of eligible Dominican voters went to the polls. The leading parties in 1994 were the PRSC, linked to the International Christian Democratic political movement, whose candidate was President Joaquín Balaguer; the PRD, affiliated with the Socialist International, whose candidate was José Francisco Peña Gómez; and the PLD, whose candidate was former President Juan Bosch.

In the 1994 elections, international observers noted many irregularities in the voter lists, and the opposition PRD immediately charged the Central Electoral Board and the PRSC with fraud. A Verification Commission appointed by the Central Electoral Board, however, did not accept the PRD's charges. By all estimates, total disenfranchised voters far exceeded the 22,281-vote margin of victory in favor of President Balaguer on 2 August 1994.

Following an intense period of political activity, the competing political parties signed a Pact for Democracy on 10 August, reducing President Balaguer's term of office from 4 to 2 years, setting early elections, and reforming the constitution. A new Central Electoral Board was named to work on electoral reform. The main candidates in 1996 were Vice President Jacinto Peynado (PRSC), José Francisco Peña Gómez (PRD), and Leonel Fernández (PLD).

Domestic and international observers saw the 1996 election as transparent and fair. After the first round in which Jacinto Peynado (PRSC) was eliminated, the PRSC with Joaquín Balaguer endorsed Leonel Fernández (PLD). Results in the second round, 45 days later on 30 June, were tabulated quickly, and although the victory margin was narrow (1.5%), it was never questioned. The transition from incumbent administration to incoming administration was smooth and ushered in a new, modern era in Dominican political life.

Fernández' political agenda was one of economic and judicial reform. He helped enhance Dominican participation in hemispheric affairs, such as the Organization of American States and the follow-up to the Miami Summit. On 16 May 2000, Hipólito Mejía, the Revolutionary Democratic Party candidate, was elected president in another free and fair election. He defeated Dominican Liberation Party candidate Danilo Medina 49.8% to 24.84%. Former President Balaguer garnered 24.68% of the vote. Mejia entered office on 16 August with four priorities: education reform, economic development, increased agricultural production, and poverty alleviation. Mejía also champions the cause of Central American and Caribbean economic integration and migration, particularly as it relates to Haiti. On 16 May 2004, Leonel Fernández, running for the Dominican Liberation Party, garnered about 57% of the vote. On 16 May 2008, Leonel Fernández, running for the Dominican Liberation Party, garnered about 54% of the vote for a second consecutive term in office.

Elections

Presidential elections are held in the Dominican Republic every four years, on the 16 May. The candidate must gain a majority vote of at least 50% plus one to win the presidency in the first round. If none of the candidates obtains such majority, a second poll will take place 45 days later, at which the population will decide between the two candidates that had the best results during the first poll.

For other political parties, see List of political parties in the Dominican Republic. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in the Dominican Republic.

Template:Dominican Republic presidential election, 2016

 Summary of the 20 May 2012 Dominican Republic presidential election results
Candidates – Parties Votes %
Danilo MedinaDominican Liberation Party and allies 2,323,463 51.21%
Hipólito MejíaDominican Revolutionary Party and allies 2,130,189 46.95%
Guillermo Moreno – Country Alliance 62,296 1.37%
Eduardo Estrella – Dominicans for Change 9,343 0.21%
Julián SerulleBroad Front 6,553 0.14%
Max PuigAlliance for Democracy 5,066 0.11%
Total valid votes 4,536,910 100.00%
Source: Junta Central Electoral
 Summary of the 16 May 2004 Dominican Republic presidential election results
Candidates - Parties Votes %
Leonel Fernández - Dominican Liberation Party (Partido de la Liberación Dominicana) 2,063,871 57.11
Hipólito Mejía - Dominican Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Dominicana) 1,215,928 33.65
Eduardo Estrella - Social Christian Reformist Party (Partido Reformista Social Cristiano) 312,493 8.65
Others 21,408 0.59
Total (turnout 72.8 %) 3,613,700 100.00
Source: Junta Central Electoral
 Summary of the 16 May 2006 Congress of the Dominican Republic election results
Parties Votes % Deputies Senators
Progressive Bloc
(Bloque Progresista)
Dominican Liberation Party (Partido de la Liberación Dominicana) 1,387,878 46.4 96 22
Institutional Social Democratic Bloc (Bloque Institucional Socialdemócrata) 75,872 2.54
Alliance for Democracy (Alianza por la Democracia) 46,573 1.56
Christian Democratic Union (Unión Demócrata Cristiana) 24,868 0.83
Dominican Workers' Party (Partido de los Trabajadores Dominicanos) 16,684 0.56
Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (Partido Liberal de República Dominicana) 14,456 0.48
Grand National Alliance
(Gran Alianza Nacional)
Dominican Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Dominicana) 931,151 31.13 60 7
Social Christian Reformist Party (Partido Reformista Social Cristiano) 326,893 10.93 22 3
National Unity Party (Partido de Unidad Nacional) 34,755 1.16
Quisqueyano Christian Democratic Party (Partido Quisqueyano Demócrata Cristiano) 23,929 0.80
Green Party of Democratic Unity (Partido Verde de la Unidad Democrática) 14,623 0.49
National Civic Veterans Party (Partido Nacional de Veteranos y Civiles) 11,984 0.40
Dominican Social Alliance (Alianza Social Dominicana) 6,033 0.20
Popular Democratic Party (Partido Demócrata Popular ) 5,400 0.18
Christian People's Party (Partido Popular Cristiano) 4,793 0.16
Others Revolutionary Social Democratic Party (Partido Revolucionario Social Demócrata) 45,744 1.53 - -
Movement for Independence, Unity and Change (Movimiento Independencia, Unidad y Cambio) 8,538 0.29 - -
Independent Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Independiente) 5,458 0.19 - -
National Renaissance Party (Partido Renacentista Nacional ) 2,914 0.10 - -
Dominican Humanist Party (Partido Humanista Dominica) 2,485 0.08 - -
Total (turnout 56.5 %) 2,991,031   178 32
Source: Junta Central Electoral and E-Polityka.pl
 Summary of the 16 May 2008 Dominican Republic presidential election results
Candidates – Parties Votes %
Leonel FernándezDominican Liberation Party and allies (Partido de la Liberación Dominicana y aliados) 2,199,734 53.83
Miguel VargasDominican Revolutionary Party and allies (Partido Revolucionario Dominicano y aliados) 1,654,066 40.48
Amable Aristy CastroSocial Christian Reformist Party (Partido Reformista Social Cristiano) 187,645 4.59
Eduardo EstrellaRevolutionary Social Democratic Party and allies (Partido Revolucionario Social Demócrata y aliados) 19,309 0.47
Guillermo MorenoMovement for Independence, Unity and Change (Movimiento Independencia, Unidad y Cambio) 18,136 0.44
Pedro de Jesús Candelier – Popular Alliance Party (Partido Alianza Popular) 6,118 0.15
Trajano Santana – Independent Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Independiente) 1,533 0.04
Total (turnout 70.67 %) 4,086,541 100.00%
Source: Junta Central Electoral
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