El Salvador: Government Structure

El Salvador is organized as a presidential republic in which power is divided among executive, legislative, and judicial branches under the 1983 constitution. The president serves as both head of state and head of government, a structure that concentrates considerable authority in the executive while formally preserving separation of powers among the three institutions.

The president is elected by direct popular vote and oversees national administration, law enforcement, and foreign relations, appointing a cabinet to manage individual government ministries. Legislative authority belongs to the unicameral Legislative Assembly, whose members are elected from the country's fourteen departments. Following a 2023 electoral reform, the Assembly's size was reduced from 84 to 60 deputies beginning with the February 2024 elections, a change that supporters described as a cost-saving efficiency measure and critics characterized as a reduction in political representation and legislative checks on the presidency.

Judicial power rests with the Supreme Court of Justice and the broader court system, which are tasked with interpreting Salvadoran law and adjudicating disputes independently of the other branches. In recent years, the relationship between these branches has drawn increased attention, as reforms affecting judicial appointments and legislative composition have prompted debate among legal scholars and international observers about the durability of El Salvador's traditional checks and balances.