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Costa Rica Government

Costa Rica is a democratic republic with elections held every four years. The president is backed and to a certain extent controlled in the executive, judicial and legislative branches by the constitution. The Executive branch is the one used by the president to coordinate government programs, command police forces and to direct international and national policies. The president has power over many ministries including the Ministerio de Educacion Publica de Costa Rica (education), the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía MINAE (environment and energy) and the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes (roads and transportation), but nevertheless he or she has to answer to them for decisions as well as to the political party that sponsored the president’s candidacy, to public opinion, media and labor unions. Reelection is possible in Costa Rica as long as it isn’t immediately after a term has been served: the 2006 elections are the first time an ex-president, Nobel Peace Price winner Oscar Arias, will run again for office.

The executive branch is composed of the president, two vice presidents, and a 17 member cabinet called the “Consejo de Gobierno” or Government Council. On the legislative branch stand the 57 diputados part of the Legislative Assembly. They also serve for four year terms and among their group responsibilities lies the duty of making amends, repealing laws and imposing taxes. They also have an opinion on budget issues, foreign loans the president makes have to be ratified by two thirds’s majority. The also have the responsibility for appointing the Supreme Court judges for at least 8 year periods. The judicial system in Costa Rica is the one that chooses the Supreme Court’s 22 magistrates, who are in office for 6 year terms with the right of renewal. The Supreme Court appoints judges for the other courts, both civil and penal, and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal is in charge of overseeing elections all the way from checking on the functioning of political parties to counting votes at the time of elections. In addition to the three main branches of the government, Costa Rica’s government is also in charge of social security, electricity and telecommunications, social security, and state oil agency RECOPE.

Costa Rica is politically divided into 7 provinces: San Jose (the capital), Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Puntarenas, Limon and Guanacaste. They are each ruled by a president appointed governor. Each province is further divided into cantons for a total of 81 cantones and those are divided into 421 distritos or districts, ruled by municipal councils. The role provinces play in government is the allotment of diputados in the Asamblea Legislativa, there is a deputy per 30 000 inhabitants of each province. However, in daily life, this political division has a greater impact than in government: each province has its own identity, and any locals will be quick to tell you why and how they are different.

One of the downsides of the highly compartmentalized government is bureaucracy. It is difficult to figure out which department or section is the one in charge of the specific problem you have to deal with. You may be shuttled from one government site to the other, and from window to window. One of the best ways to get to know the ropes is to befriend a tico who works for the government. Not such a difficult task, since about one in four ticos work in state owned businesses or industries. Ticos are known for their friendliness and openness, and they will be very willing to help you understand the ropes in the country. If you have any questions that you don’t find answered on our site, please feel free to contact our relocation experts who will assist you in moving to Costa Rica and finding out the way our government works.