Pepe's Chile

A Gringo's Culture Guide to Chile

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Home » Chile Facts » Chilean Government

Chilean Government

Country name
Republica de Chile
Government type
republic
Capital
Santiago
Administrative divisions
15 regions (regiones, singular – region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
Independence
Chile officially proclaimed independence from Spain on February 12, 1818. Nevertheless, Chileans celebrate their independence September 18th which is really the anniversary of the government’s first organization.
Constitution
11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981, amended 30 July 1989, 1993, and 1997
Executive branch
chief of state: Presidente Sebastián Piñera Echenique (since 11 March 2010); note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four year term; election last held December 2009, with runoff election held 17 January 2010.
Legislative branch
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote, 9 designated members, and 1 former president who has served a full six-year term and is senator for life); elected members serve eight-year terms (one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court); Constitutional Tribunal

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The Gringo’s Culture Guide to Chile is designed to help you understand Chileans, their culture, food, language, and daily life so you can enjoy your time in this beautiful country and not be blindsided by culture shock.

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