Government and Politics of Costa Rica

Government Type

democratic republic

Administrative Divisions

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Legal System

based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); Vice President Mary MuniveESTRADA (since 8 May 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); Vice President Mary Munive ESTRADA (since 8 May 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held on 6 February 2022, with a runoff on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in February 2026) election results: Rodrigo CHAVES Robles elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 27.3%, Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 16.8%, Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PNR) 14.9%, other 41%; percent of vote in runoff - Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 52.8%, Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 47.2%; CHAVES assumed the presidency on 8 May 2022

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) Elections: last held on 6 February 2022 (next to be held in February 2026) Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPSD 10, PLN 9, PLP 9, PUSC 9, PRN 7, PNG 4, FA 3, other 6

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)

Political Parties

Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Gerardo Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Vladimir DE LA CRUZ]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO]; National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas]; National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos AVENDANO]; Nationalist Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel VILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic Union or UP [Humberto ARCE Salas]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Lorena VASQUEZ Badilla]; Union for Change Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or IU [Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]

Head of State

President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles

Head of Government

President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles

Cabinet

Cabinet selected by the president

Elections

last held on 6 February 2022 (next to be held in February 2026)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPSD 10, PLN 9, PLP 9, PUSC 9, PRN 7, PNG 4, FA 3, other 6

Constitution

7-Nov-49

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

International Organization Participation

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Tomas DUENAS chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Hammond (temporary location in Louisiana), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily closed), Washington, DC consulate(s): San Francisco

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark LANGDALE embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 519-2000 FAX: [506] 519-2305

Capital City

San Jose

Location

9 56 N, 84 05 W

Time Difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

named in honor of Saint Joseph

Embassy San Jose Calle 120 Avenida 0, Pavas, San José, Costa Rica Telephone: [506] 2519-2000 Emergency after-hours telephone: [506] 2519-2000 Facsimile: [506] 2200-2455

Military Branches

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police