Both the President and Vice President must be elected in the Dominican Republic. They win by a popular vote from the people. Each term is four-years in length and the political party may run for one more term according to the 2010 amendment to the Constitution. Elections are always held on the 16th of May. They happen on even numbered years that are divisible by four.

In the Dominican Government System, the Executive branch is the dominant one. The president serves as both the head of State, and he is also the Head of Government. He also serves as Commander in Chief for the countries armed forces. He has the power to command and deploy the armed forces. He can suspend rights during a time of emergency and can defer the legislature to declare what is called a “state of siege.”

The Constitution has 27 paragraphs that tell of the president’s powers. One of the most important is that they have authority over all public officials and appointments. This includes those who are elected. He publicizes the laws made by Congress and engages in numerous diplomatic relations.

The Constitution was drafted in 1966 and has provisions made for the ministers and subcabinet ministers to help with the overall public administration. To assist the president, these people must be citizens and at least 25 years of age. The president governs over these people and is responsible for them and their actions. The president has discretional say over them.

The Legislative Branch of government has 32 members who serve four year terms. The lower part of the house is called the Chamber of Deputies. There are 178 members in this group who are also elected for a four year term. According to the law, there is one person elected to represent each 50,000 inhabitants.

The Senate is the group that works with the president to study and approve laws. Although the President has the upmost authority, he cannot override a law put into place by this branch where the majority votes in favor. They have the power to appoint the President and any other members to the Central Electoral Board. They can also appoint members to their Public Accounts Chamber. They also have a great say in the diplomatic agents that are made by the Executive branch. If the President should fall under scrutiny and public accusation is running wild, the Senate is the only branch of law that has the power to remove him from office. A vote of 75 percent of all the members is required to impeach the president. Also, the removed party can be tried according to the legal measures within the law through a court system if applicable.

Being the president in the Dominican Republic is a hard job. It requires a delicate balance to appease the people. In this drug laden area, crime and drug rings are always a main concern. However, the current president seems to have things under control and ranks high in the poll of public opinion.