Politics of Suriname
Encyclopedia
Politics of Suriname takes place in a framework of a parliamentary
representative democratic
republic
, whereby the President of Suriname
is the head of government
, and of a pluriform
multi-party system
. Executive power
is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government
and the National Assembly
. The Judiciary
is independent of the executive and the legislature.
, who is elected by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly
or, failing that twice, by a majority of the People's Assembly for a 5-year term. If at least two-thirds of the National Assembly cannot agree to vote for one presidential candidate, a People's Assembly is formed from all National Assembly delegates and regional and municipal representatives who were elected by popular vote in the most recent national election. The Vice President
, normally elected at the same time as the president, is elected for a 5-year term, the same way as the president. As head of government, the president appoints a cabinet of ministers who are led in their day-to-day activities y the Vice President. There is no constitutional provision for removal or replacement of the president unless he resigns.
A 15-member State Advisory Council
advises the president in the conduct of policy
. Eleven of the 15 council seats are allotted by proportional representation of all political parties represented in the National Assembly. The president chairs the council, and two seats are allotted to representatives of labor, and two are to employers' organizations.
|President
|Dési Bouterse
|National Democratic Party
|12 August 2010
|-
|Vice President
|Robert Ameerali
|Independent
|12 August 2010
|}
The Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president.
consists of a 51-member unicameral National Assembly, simultaneously and popularly elected for a 5-year term.
- the president
- and a legislature
. The president is elected for a five year term by an electoral college based on the parliament. The National Assembly
(Nationale Assemblée) has 51 members, elected every five years by proportional representation
per district.
is headed by the Court of Justice
(Supreme Court
). This court supervises the magistrate courts. Members are appointed for life by the president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the National Order of Private Attorneys.
appointed by the president. The commissioner serves at the president's pleasure.
The 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt) are ; Brokopondo
, Commewijne
, Coronie, Marowijne
, Nickerie
, Para
, Paramaribo
, Saramacca
, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
representative democratic
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
, whereby the President of Suriname
President of Suriname
The President of the Republic of Suriname is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of Suriname....
is the head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
, and of a pluriform
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
multi-party system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
. Executive power
Executive Power
Executive Power is Vince Flynn's fifth novel, and the fourth to feature Mitch Rapp, an American agent that works for the CIA as an operative for a covert counter terrorism unit called the "Orion Team."-Plot summary:...
is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and the National Assembly
National Assembly of Suriname
The National Assembly is the Parliament, representing the legislative branch of government in the Republic of Suriname. It is a unicameral legislature...
. The Judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Executive branch
The executive branch is headed by the presidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, who is elected by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Suriname
The National Assembly is the Parliament, representing the legislative branch of government in the Republic of Suriname. It is a unicameral legislature...
or, failing that twice, by a majority of the People's Assembly for a 5-year term. If at least two-thirds of the National Assembly cannot agree to vote for one presidential candidate, a People's Assembly is formed from all National Assembly delegates and regional and municipal representatives who were elected by popular vote in the most recent national election. The Vice President
Vice President of Suriname
Vice President of Suriname is the second highest political position in Suriname. The Vice President is elected in the same indirect way as the President in the National Assembly of Suriname, with two-thirds of votes. If no candidate gets majority after three rounds of votes, the election is carried...
, normally elected at the same time as the president, is elected for a 5-year term, the same way as the president. As head of government, the president appoints a cabinet of ministers who are led in their day-to-day activities y the Vice President. There is no constitutional provision for removal or replacement of the president unless he resigns.
A 15-member State Advisory Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
advises the president in the conduct of policy
Policy
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome. The term is not normally used to denote what is actually done, this is normally referred to as either procedure or protocol...
. Eleven of the 15 council seats are allotted by proportional representation of all political parties represented in the National Assembly. The president chairs the council, and two seats are allotted to representatives of labor, and two are to employers' organizations.
|President
President of Suriname
The President of the Republic of Suriname is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of Suriname....
|Dési Bouterse
Dési Bouterse
Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse is the 9th and current President of Suriname.As an army officer, he was the de facto leader of Suriname through most of the 1980s, serving as Chairman of the National Military Council...
|National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Suriname)
The National Democratic Party is a political party in Suriname. It was founded in 1987 shortly before the downfall of military dictator Dési Bouterse....
|12 August 2010
|-
|Vice President
Vice President of Suriname
Vice President of Suriname is the second highest political position in Suriname. The Vice President is elected in the same indirect way as the President in the National Assembly of Suriname, with two-thirds of votes. If no candidate gets majority after three rounds of votes, the election is carried...
|Robert Ameerali
Robert Ameerali
-References:...
|Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
|12 August 2010
|}
The Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president.
Legislative branch
The legislative branch of governmentGovernment
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
consists of a 51-member unicameral National Assembly, simultaneously and popularly elected for a 5-year term.
Political parties and elections
Suriname elects on national level a head of stateHead of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
- the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
- and a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The president is elected for a five year term by an electoral college based on the parliament. The National Assembly
National Assembly of Suriname
The National Assembly is the Parliament, representing the legislative branch of government in the Republic of Suriname. It is a unicameral legislature...
(Nationale Assemblée) has 51 members, elected every five years by proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
per district.
Judicial branch
The judiciaryJudiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
is headed by the Court of Justice
Court of Justice
Court of Justice may refer to:*Caribbean Court of Justice*Court of Justice of the European Union*International Court of Justice*Court of Justice *Ontario Court of Justice...
(Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
). This court supervises the magistrate courts. Members are appointed for life by the president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the National Order of Private Attorneys.
Administrative divisions
The country is divided into 10 administrative districts, each headed by a district commissionerDistrict Commissioner
A District Commissioner is an executive post in Malawi for the appointee in charge of the Districts or administrative localities in Malawi. There are 28 Districts in Malawi. The role is similar to that of a governor. The position of DC is appointed by the President of Malawi...
appointed by the president. The commissioner serves at the president's pleasure.
The 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt) are ; Brokopondo
Brokopondo
Brokopondo is a capital town of the Brokopondo District, Suriname. It is located on the west shore of the Suriname river, just north of the Afobaka dam. Brokopondo can be reached via the road from Paranam to Afobaka. There's a granite monument made by sculptor Jo Rens, displaying two men: one...
, Commewijne
Commewijne District
Commewijne is a district of Suriname, located on the right bank of the Suriname River. Commewijne's capital city is Nieuw Amsterdam. Alliance is another major town.The district has a population of 25,200 and an area of 2,353 km²....
, Coronie, Marowijne
Marowijne District
Marowijne is a district of Suriname, located on the north-east coast. Marowijne's capital city is Albina, with other towns including Moengo and Wanhatti...
, Nickerie
Nickerie District
Nickerie is a district of Suriname, on the north-west coast. Nickerie's capital city is Nieuw-Nickerie, the second largest city in the country. Other towns include Washoda and Wageningen...
, Para
Para District
Para is a district of Suriname, in the north. Para's capital city is Onverwacht, with other towns including Paranam, Sabana and Zanderij.Para has a population of 15,120 and an area of 5,393 km²....
, Paramaribo
Paramaribo District
Paramaribo is a district of Suriname, encompassing the city of Paramaribo and the surrounding area.Paramaribo district has a population of 213,840 and an area 183 km²....
, Saramacca
Saramacca District
Saramacca is a district of Suriname, in the north. Saramacca's capital city is Groningen, with other towns and cities including Batavia and Boskamp.Saramacca has a population of 13,600 and an area of 3,636 km²....
, Sipaliwini, Wanica