Ecuador: Government Structure

Ecuador's government is organized into five constitutionally recognized branches, though power in practice concentrates around the familiar executive, legislative, and judicial functions common to presidential systems. The current framework dates to the 2008 constitution, which reorganized several state institutions and introduced participatory and electoral bodies alongside the traditional three branches.

The presidency serves as both head of state and head of government, elected by popular vote for a four-year term alongside a vice president. The office carries significant authority, including the power to appoint cabinet ministers, propose legislation, and issue economic urgency bills that the National Assembly must act on within a set period. Legislative power rests with the unicameral National Assembly, whose 137 members are elected for four-year terms and are responsible for passing laws, approving the national budget, and overseeing executive conduct. A distinctive feature of Ecuadorian governance is the constitutional provision known as "mutual death," under which either the president or the Assembly can trigger the dissolution of both branches simultaneously, forcing early elections for both offices.

Judicial authority is vested in the National Court of Justice and subordinate courts, which operate independently of the other branches and are overseen administratively by the Judicial Council. Together these institutions reflect Ecuador's attempt, following a period of political instability in the early 2000s, to build stronger checks between the presidency and the legislature.