Dominican Republic: Politics and Governance

The Dominican Republic is a unitary presidential representative democratic republic, with the President serving as both head of state and head of government. The bicameral National Congress, composed of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, holds legislative power, while an independent judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court of Justice. The constitution provides for separation of powers among executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Since transitioning from the Trujillo dictatorship and subsequent instability, the Dominican Republic has held regular multiparty elections and is generally regarded as one of the more stable democracies in the Caribbean. Political life has historically been shaped by parties such as the Dominican Liberation Party and the Modern Revolutionary Party, and the country maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with the United States while navigating a complex relationship with neighboring Haiti.