Government of Argentina
Encyclopedia
The government of Argentina, functioning within the framework of a federal system, is a presidential
representative democratic
republic
. The President of Argentina
is both head of state
and head of government
. Executive power
is exercised by the President. Legislative power is vested in both the Executive and the National Congress
. The Judiciary
is independent from the Executive and from the Legislature.
and Head of Government
President of Argentina
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
, formally given the power over the Administration to follow through with the interests of the Nation. The President is also the Commander in Chief of the Argentine Armed Forces.
The President
and the Vice President are elected through universal suffrage
by the nation considered as a whole. The Constitutional reform of 1994 introduced a two-round system by which the winning President-Vice President ticket has to receive either more than 45% of the overall valid votes, or at least 40% of it and a 10% lead over the runner-up. In any other case, the two leading tickets get to face a second round whose victor will be decided by a simple majority. This mechanism was not necessary in the 1995 election, when it could have first come into use, nor in the 1999 one, nor in the last Presidential election
, occurred in 2007. However, it was instrumental in the selection of Néstor Kirchner
in 2003
.
The Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the President, but is not technically part of the Executive Power. The Vice-President, Julio Cobos
, belongs to the Legislative Branch, since he is also the President of the Senate.
President Cristina Kirchner
holds the office since December 10, 2007. As of December 28, 2010, her cabinet consists of the following Ministers:
cia.ca
constitutes the legislative branch of government. The Congress consists of the Senate
(72 seats), presided by the Vice-President of the Nation, and the Chamber of Deputies
(257 seats), currently presided by Eduardo Fellner
, deputy for Jujuy Province
. Senators stay in office for six years, and deputies, for four.
This branch also includes the Vice-President office (since he is the president of the Senate Chamber), the Office of the Nation's Auditor-General
and the Ombudsman
's office.
The residents of each of the Provinces
and of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
elect deputies and senators directly. Deputies are representatives of the whole people of the Nation, while Senators represent their districts. Each district elects a number of deputies roughly proportional to their overall population by proportional representation
, and three senators: two for the majority, and one for the first minority. Members of both chambers are allowed indefinite re-elections.
Every two years, each one of the twenty-four electoral districts (the twenty-three Provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires) elects one half of their lower chamber representatives. Districts with an odd number of Deputies elect one more or one less of them on each election. As for the Senators, the twenty-four districts are divided into three groups consisting of eight districts. Every two years all eight districts of one of those groups elect all their three senators, assigning two of them from the party that obtains the majority, and one from the first minority party. Six years later, the same group of districts will hold its next senatorial elections.
, half the Chamber of Deputies seats and one third of the seats in the Senate were subjected to the ballot box. The Front for Victory
(FPV) and other allies of Néstor and Cristina Kirchner
, Argentina's progressive
ruling couple, secured 113 of 257 seats in the lower house, losing 24 seats and their previous absolute majority (the fractious Justicialist Party
, to which the FPV formally adheres, continue to enjoy the control of the lower house since 1989). Among Justicialists representatives, a further 17 seats went to anti-Kirchnerites (mostly conservatives), gaining just one seat from the previous situation. The centrist social democratic Radical Civic Union
, Argentina's oldest party, allied itself in various districts with the centrist Civic Coalition
or with the social democratic Socialist Party
, secured 77 seats, thus gaining 16. The conservative Republican Proposal
secured 26 seats, gaining 12 from the previous election. A further 24 seats went to smaller parties, mostly provincially-oriented, but also from the center-left spectrum.
Something similar took place in the Senate, where the Kirchners' Front for Victory
secured 36 of 72 seats (losing 4), the UCR
/CC
/PS
grouping secured 23 (gaining 7), and the Justicialist Party
wing opposed to the Kirchners maintained their presence of 9 seats. Smaller, provincial parties were left with 4 seats in all (losing 3); Justicialists (pro or against the current Administration) manitained the control over the Senate they've enjoyed since 1983.
Riding a wave of approval during a dramatic economic recovery from a 2001-02 crisis, the Kirchners' FPV
enjoyed increasingly large majorities in Congress, reaching a peak at the 2007 general elections
(153 Congressmen and 44 Senators). However, soon after, on July 16, 2008, a presidentially-sponsored bill to increase Argentina's export taxes on the basis of a sliding scale met with a legislative deadlock, and was ultimately defeated by the tie-breaking "against" vote of Vice President Julio Cobos
. That controversial law cost the FPV 16 Congressmen and 4 Senators by way of defections.
In 2009 elections, FPV candidates lost in the four most important electoral districts (home to 60% of Argentines), only in the Province of Buenos Aires by a narrow difference. Considering the overall national vote, FPV obtained only a very narrow victory, becoming the Congress first minority form December 10, 2009, on. This will be reflected in strengthened opposition alliances, notably the center-right Unión Pro
, the center-left Civic Coalition
and the left-wing Proyecto Sur, when elected candidates in both chambers take office on December 11, 2009.
The Judiciary Branch is composed of federal judges and others with different jurisdictions, and a Supreme Court
with nine members (one President, one Vice-President and seven Ministers), appointed by the President with approval of the Senate, who may be deposed by Congress. As of August 2006 there are two vacancies, which then President Kirchner stated she did not intend to fill.
and one autonomous district
, which hosts the national capital, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
(which is conurbated
into the province of Buenos Aires
). Each of the provinces has its own constitution, laws, authorities, form of government, etc., though these must first and foremost comply with the national constitution
and laws.
The government of each province has three branches (Executive, Legislative and Judiciary). The Executive is led by a Governor. The Legislative Branch may be organized as a unicameral or a bicameral system (that is, either one or two chambers or houses).
Each province, except for Buenos Aires Province
, is divided into districts called department
s (departamentos). Departaments are merely administrative divisions; they do not have governing structures or authorities of their own. They are in turn divided into municipalities
(cities, towns and villages). Each province has its own naming conventions and government systems for different kinds of municipalities. For example, Córdoba Province has municipios (cities) and comunas (towns); Santa Fe Province
further distinguishes between first- and second- tier municipios; Chaco Province
refers to every populated center as municipios, in three categories.
The Province of Buenos Aires has a different system. Its territory is divided into 134 districts called partido
s, which are technically municipalities, even though they usually contain several cities and towns.
Regardless of the province, each department/partido has a head town (cabecera), often though not necessarily the largest urban center, and in some provinces often named the same as their parent district.
Municipalities are ruled by mayor
s, usually called Intendant (intendente) in the case of cities and towns (the larger categories). A city has a legislative body called the Deliberative Council (Concejo Deliberante). The smaller towns have simpler systems, often ruled by commissions presided by a Communal President (presidente communal) or a similarly named authority.
Buenos Aires
city, seat of the National Government, was declared an autonomous city
by the 1994 constitutional reform
. Its mayor, formerly chosen by the President of the Republic
, is now elected by the people, and receives the title of Chief of Government (Jefe de Gobierno). Other than that, Buenos Aires, as the provinces, has its own Legislative Branch (a unicameral Legislature) and elect deputies and senators
as representatives to the National Congress
.
Presidential system
A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it....
representative democratic
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
. The President of Argentina
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
is both head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
. Executive power
Executive Power
Executive Power is Vince Flynn's fifth novel, and the fourth to feature Mitch Rapp, an American agent that works for the CIA as an operative for a covert counter terrorism unit called the "Orion Team."-Plot summary:...
is exercised by the President. Legislative power is vested in both the Executive and the National Congress
Argentine National Congress
The Congress of the Argentine Nation is the legislative branch of the government of Argentina. Its composition is bicameral, constituted by a 72-seat Senate and a 257-seat Chamber of Deputies....
. The Judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
is independent from the Executive and from the Legislature.
Executive Branch
The current composition of the Executive Branch includes only the Head of StateHead of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and Head of Government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
President of Argentina
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner , commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner is the 55th and current President of Argentina and the widow of former President Néstor Kirchner. She is Argentina's first elected female president, and the second female president ever to serve...
, formally given the power over the Administration to follow through with the interests of the Nation. The President is also the Commander in Chief of the Argentine Armed Forces.
The President
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
and the Vice President are elected through universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
by the nation considered as a whole. The Constitutional reform of 1994 introduced a two-round system by which the winning President-Vice President ticket has to receive either more than 45% of the overall valid votes, or at least 40% of it and a 10% lead over the runner-up. In any other case, the two leading tickets get to face a second round whose victor will be decided by a simple majority. This mechanism was not necessary in the 1995 election, when it could have first come into use, nor in the 1999 one, nor in the last Presidential election
Argentine general election, 2007
Argentina held national presidential and legislative elections on October 28, 2007, and elections for provincial governors took place on staggered dates throughout the year. For the national elections, each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires are considered electoral districts...
, occurred in 2007. However, it was instrumental in the selection of Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
in 2003
Argentine general election, 2003
Argentina held presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday, April 27, 2003. Turnout was 78.2% and the results were as follows:-Argentine Congress:-Background:...
.
The Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the President, but is not technically part of the Executive Power. The Vice-President, Julio Cobos
Julio Cobos
Julio César Cleto Cobos is an Argentine politician, currently serving as the Vice President of Argentina alongside President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. He started his political career as member of the Radical Civic Union , becoming Governor of Mendoza in 2003...
, belongs to the Legislative Branch, since he is also the President of the Senate.
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner , commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner is the 55th and current President of Argentina and the widow of former President Néstor Kirchner. She is Argentina's first elected female president, and the second female president ever to serve...
holds the office since December 10, 2007. As of December 28, 2010, her cabinet consists of the following Ministers:
- Chief of the Cabinet of MinistersChief of the Cabinet of MinistersThe Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers is a political office of Argentina, created by the 1994 amendment of the Argentine Constitution. The current office holder is Aníbal Fernández.-Attributions:...
: Aníbal FernándezAníbal FernándezAníbal Domingo Fernández is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, who served as Interior Minister for President Néstor Kirchner, Minister of Justice for President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and is currently the President's Cabinet Chief.-Biography:Born in Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province,... - Minister of the Interior: Florencio RandazzoFlorencio RandazzoFlorencio Randazzo in an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, currently the President's Interior Minister. The Interior Ministry in Argentina serves as the President's chief political office.-Life and times:...
- Minister of Foreign RelationsMinistry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and WorshipThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship is the Argentine government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Argentina.The current Chancellor is Héctor Timerman.-External links:...
(mostly known as the Chancellor): Héctor TimermanHéctor TimermanHéctor Marcos Timerman is an Argentine journalist, sociologist, political and human rights activist, diplomat, and current Argentine Minister of Foreign Relations.-Life and times:... - Minister of DefenseMinistry of Defense (Argentina)The Ministry of Defense of Argentina is a ministry of the national executive power that deals with everything related to the country national defense...
: Arturo PuricelliArturo PuricelliArturo Puricelli is an Argentine lawmaker, currently the country's Minister of Defense.-Life and times:Arturo Antonio Puricelli was born in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, in 1948. He enrolled at the National University of the Littoral, and became affiliated with the populist Justicialist Party... - Minister of EconomyMinister of Economy of ArgentinaThe Minister of Economy is the head of the Ministry of Economy and Production of Argentina, concerned with finance and monetary matters. The position within the Government of Argentina is analogous to the finance ministers of some countries and the United States Treasury Secretary...
: Amado BoudouAmado BoudouAmado Boudou is an Argentine businessman and government policy maker who serves as Minister of the Economy since 2009. He was elected Vice President of Argentina as running mate of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in the 2011 general election.-Early life and career:Amado Boudou was born in Mar del... - Minister of Justice and Human Rights: Julio AlakJulio AlakJulio César Alak is an Argentine politician, the former mayor of provincial capital La Plata, and currently the President's Attorney General.-Political career:Alak was born in Benito Juárez, a pampas town in Buenos Aires Province...
- Minister of Security: Nilda GarréNilda GarréNilda Garré , a former leftist militant, is the current Minister of Security of Argentina, and the former Minister of Defense since 2005. She was the first woman to hold each office in the country.- Career :...
- Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security: Carlos TomadaCarlos TomadaCarlos Alfonso Tomada is an Argentine Peronist politician who serves as the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security. Tomada was appointed by former President Néstor Kirchner, and reappointed by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.-Biography:Tomada was born in the Palermo...
- Minister of Education: Alberto SileoniAlberto SileoniAlberto Sileoni is an Argentine academic and policy maker, currently the President's Minister of Education.Alberto Sileoni enrolled in the University of Buenos Aires and earned a degree in History, in 1975. He later taught the discipline at his alma mater, and in 1993, was named Director of Adult...
- Minister of Science, Technology and Innovative Production: Lino BarañaoLino BarañaoLino Barañao is an Argentine chemist and politician, currently Minister of Science, Technology and Innovative Production under President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.-Biography:...
- Minister of Health: Juan Luis ManzurJuan Luis ManzurJuan Luis Manzur is an Argentine surgeon and politician, currently Minister of Health and Environment to the President.-Biography:...
- Minister of Social Development: Alicia KirchnerAlicia KirchnerAlicia Margarita Kirchner de Mercado is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician. She is the sister of former President Néstor Kirchner and served in his government as Minister of Social Development, a role which she continues to hold under new President, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, her...
- Minister of Federal Planning and Public Utilities: Julio de VidoJulio de VidoJulio Miguel de Vido is an Argentine policy maker, currently the President's Minister of Planning and Public Works.-Biography:...
- Minister of Industry: Débora GiorgiDébora GiorgiDébora Giorgi is an Argentine economist, currently the nation's Minister of Industry.-Career:Giorgi was born in Balvanera, Buenos Aires in 1959 and graduated with honors from the Argentine Catholic University with a degree in Economics, later publishing numerous academic articles in her specialty...
- Minister of Agriculture: Julián DomínguezJulián DomínguezJulián Andrés Domínguez is an Argentine politician, and currently the President's Minister of Agriculture.-Life and times:Domínguez was born in the Buenos Aires Province town of Chacabuco, located in the heart of the Pampas and the Argentine maize belt...
- Minister of Tourism: Carlos Enrique Meyer
cia.ca
Legislative Branch
The National CongressArgentine National Congress
The Congress of the Argentine Nation is the legislative branch of the government of Argentina. Its composition is bicameral, constituted by a 72-seat Senate and a 257-seat Chamber of Deputies....
constitutes the legislative branch of government. The Congress consists of the Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
(72 seats), presided by the Vice-President of the Nation, and the Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
(257 seats), currently presided by Eduardo Fellner
Eduardo Fellner
Eduardo Alfredo Fellner is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, currently President of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies and until 2007 governor of Jujuy Province....
, deputy for Jujuy Province
Jujuy Province
Jujuy is a province of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country, at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. The only neighboring Argentine province is Salta to the east and south.-History:...
. Senators stay in office for six years, and deputies, for four.
This branch also includes the Vice-President office (since he is the president of the Senate Chamber), the Office of the Nation's Auditor-General
Auditor-General
The Auditor-General is an office established by the 1996 Constitution of South Africa and is one of the Chapter nine institutions intended to support democracy, although its history dates back at least 95 years ....
and the Ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
's office.
The residents of each of the Provinces
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
and of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
elect deputies and senators directly. Deputies are representatives of the whole people of the Nation, while Senators represent their districts. Each district elects a number of deputies roughly proportional to their overall population by proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
, and three senators: two for the majority, and one for the first minority. Members of both chambers are allowed indefinite re-elections.
Every two years, each one of the twenty-four electoral districts (the twenty-three Provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires) elects one half of their lower chamber representatives. Districts with an odd number of Deputies elect one more or one less of them on each election. As for the Senators, the twenty-four districts are divided into three groups consisting of eight districts. Every two years all eight districts of one of those groups elect all their three senators, assigning two of them from the party that obtains the majority, and one from the first minority party. Six years later, the same group of districts will hold its next senatorial elections.
Current situation
Following the June 28th, 2009 mid-term electionsArgentine legislative election, 2009
Legislative elections were held in Argentina for half the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and a third of the seats in the Senate on 28 June 2009, as well as for the legislature of the City of Buenos Aires and other municipalities.-Background:...
, half the Chamber of Deputies seats and one third of the seats in the Senate were subjected to the ballot box. The Front for Victory
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory is a Peronist political party and electoral alliance in Argentina, although it is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Both the former President Néstor Kirchner and the current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner belong to this party, located on the left-wing...
(FPV) and other allies of Néstor and Cristina Kirchner
Kirchnerism
Kirchnerism is a term used to refer to the political philosophy and supporters of Néstor Kirchner, president of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, and of his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President from 2007...
, Argentina's progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
ruling couple, secured 113 of 257 seats in the lower house, losing 24 seats and their previous absolute majority (the fractious Justicialist Party
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
, to which the FPV formally adheres, continue to enjoy the control of the lower house since 1989). Among Justicialists representatives, a further 17 seats went to anti-Kirchnerites (mostly conservatives), gaining just one seat from the previous situation. The centrist social democratic Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
, Argentina's oldest party, allied itself in various districts with the centrist Civic Coalition
Civic Coalition
The Civic Coalition is a political coalition in Argentina. It was founded by Elisa Carrió, as an association supported by the ARI party , as well as a number of other political groups and individual political leaders, notably Union for All of Patricia Bullrich and GEN - Generation for a National...
or with the social democratic Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Argentina)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in Argentina. The history of socialism in Argentina began in the 1890s, when a group of people, notably Juan B. Justo, expressed the need for a greater social focus....
, secured 77 seats, thus gaining 16. The conservative Republican Proposal
Republican Proposal
Republican Proposal is a right-wing political party in Argentina. It is usually referred to as PRO. PRO was formed as an electoral alliance in 2005, but was transformed into a unitary party on 3 June 2010....
secured 26 seats, gaining 12 from the previous election. A further 24 seats went to smaller parties, mostly provincially-oriented, but also from the center-left spectrum.
Something similar took place in the Senate, where the Kirchners' Front for Victory
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory is a Peronist political party and electoral alliance in Argentina, although it is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Both the former President Néstor Kirchner and the current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner belong to this party, located on the left-wing...
secured 36 of 72 seats (losing 4), the UCR
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
/CC
Civic Coalition
The Civic Coalition is a political coalition in Argentina. It was founded by Elisa Carrió, as an association supported by the ARI party , as well as a number of other political groups and individual political leaders, notably Union for All of Patricia Bullrich and GEN - Generation for a National...
/PS
Socialist Party (Argentina)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in Argentina. The history of socialism in Argentina began in the 1890s, when a group of people, notably Juan B. Justo, expressed the need for a greater social focus....
grouping secured 23 (gaining 7), and the Justicialist Party
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
wing opposed to the Kirchners maintained their presence of 9 seats. Smaller, provincial parties were left with 4 seats in all (losing 3); Justicialists (pro or against the current Administration) manitained the control over the Senate they've enjoyed since 1983.
Riding a wave of approval during a dramatic economic recovery from a 2001-02 crisis, the Kirchners' FPV
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory is a Peronist political party and electoral alliance in Argentina, although it is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Both the former President Néstor Kirchner and the current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner belong to this party, located on the left-wing...
enjoyed increasingly large majorities in Congress, reaching a peak at the 2007 general elections
Argentine general election, 2007
Argentina held national presidential and legislative elections on October 28, 2007, and elections for provincial governors took place on staggered dates throughout the year. For the national elections, each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires are considered electoral districts...
(153 Congressmen and 44 Senators). However, soon after, on July 16, 2008, a presidentially-sponsored bill to increase Argentina's export taxes on the basis of a sliding scale met with a legislative deadlock, and was ultimately defeated by the tie-breaking "against" vote of Vice President Julio Cobos
Julio Cobos
Julio César Cleto Cobos is an Argentine politician, currently serving as the Vice President of Argentina alongside President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. He started his political career as member of the Radical Civic Union , becoming Governor of Mendoza in 2003...
. That controversial law cost the FPV 16 Congressmen and 4 Senators by way of defections.
In 2009 elections, FPV candidates lost in the four most important electoral districts (home to 60% of Argentines), only in the Province of Buenos Aires by a narrow difference. Considering the overall national vote, FPV obtained only a very narrow victory, becoming the Congress first minority form December 10, 2009, on. This will be reflected in strengthened opposition alliances, notably the center-right Unión Pro
Republican Proposal
Republican Proposal is a right-wing political party in Argentina. It is usually referred to as PRO. PRO was formed as an electoral alliance in 2005, but was transformed into a unitary party on 3 June 2010....
, the center-left Civic Coalition
Civic Coalition
The Civic Coalition is a political coalition in Argentina. It was founded by Elisa Carrió, as an association supported by the ARI party , as well as a number of other political groups and individual political leaders, notably Union for All of Patricia Bullrich and GEN - Generation for a National...
and the left-wing Proyecto Sur, when elected candidates in both chambers take office on December 11, 2009.
Judiciary Branch
Supreme Court of Argentina
The Supreme Court of Argentina is the highest court of law of the Argentine Republic. It was inaugurated on 15 January 1863. However, during much of the 20th century, the Court and, in general, the Argentine judicial system, has lacked autonomy from the executive power...
with nine members (one President, one Vice-President and seven Ministers), appointed by the President with approval of the Senate, who may be deposed by Congress. As of August 2006 there are two vacancies, which then President Kirchner stated she did not intend to fill.
- President of the Supreme Court: Dr. Ricardo L. LorenzettiRicardo LorenzettiRicardo Luis Lorenzetti is a member of the Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina. He was elected President of the high court by his peers on November 7, 2006....
- Vice-President of the Supreme Court: Dra. Elena I. Highton de Nolasco
- Minister of the Court: Dr. Carlos S. FaytCarlos FaytCarlos Santiago Fayt is an Argentine lawyer, politician, academic and a member of Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina since 1983....
- Minister of the Court: Dr. Juan Carlos MaquedaJuan Carlos MaquedaJuan Carlos Maqueda is an Argentine lawyer, politician and a member of Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina since 2002...
- Minister of the Court: Dr. Eugenio Raúl ZaffaroniEugenio Raúl ZaffaroniEugenio Raúl Zaffaroni is an Argentine lawyer. Since 2003 he has been a member of the Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina.- Academic career :...
- Minister of the Court: Dr. Enrique S. Petracchi
- Minister of the Court: Dra. Carmen ArgibayCarmen ArgibayCarmen María Argibay is a member of the Argentine Supreme Court of Justice. She was the first woman to be nominated for the Court by a democratic government in Argentina, and caused some controversy upon declaring herself an atheist and a supporter of legal abortion.-Career prior to the Supreme...
- Minister of the Court: Dr. Eduardo CoudetEduardo CoudetEduardo Germán Coudet is an Argentine footballer currently playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.-Career:...
Provincial and municipal governments
Argentina is divided into 23 districts called ProvincesProvinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
and one autonomous district
Autonomous city
Autonomous city is a type of administrative division.-Argentina:The 1994 amendment of the Argentine Constitution granted Buenos Aires city, formerly a federal district of Argentina, the status of autonomous, and changed its formal name to Autonomous City of Buenos Aires .Another large city that is...
, which hosts the national capital, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
(which is conurbated
Greater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires is the generic denomination to refer to the megalopolis comprising the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and the conurbation around it, over the province of Buenos Aires—namely the adjacent 24 partidos or municipalities—which nonetheless do not constitute a single administrative...
into the province of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
). Each of the provinces has its own constitution, laws, authorities, form of government, etc., though these must first and foremost comply with the national constitution
Constitution of Argentina
The constitution of Argentina is one of the primary sources of existing law in Argentina. Its first version was written in 1853 by a Constitutional Assembly gathered in Santa Fe, and the doctrinal basis was taken in part from the United States Constitution...
and laws.
Each province, except for Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
, is divided into districts called department
Departments of Argentina
Departments form the second level of administrative division in the provinces of Argentina. There are no departments in the city of Buenos Aires, which has so far been divided into neighbourhoods as its administrative divisions, but is to be divided now into communes by a recently passed local act...
s (departamentos). Departaments are merely administrative divisions; they do not have governing structures or authorities of their own. They are in turn divided into municipalities
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
(cities, towns and villages). Each province has its own naming conventions and government systems for different kinds of municipalities. For example, Córdoba Province has municipios (cities) and comunas (towns); Santa Fe Province
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
further distinguishes between first- and second- tier municipios; Chaco Province
Chaco Province
Chaco is an Argentine province located in the north of the country, near the border with Paraguay. Its capital is Resistencia on the Paraná River opposite the city of Corrientes...
refers to every populated center as municipios, in three categories.
The Province of Buenos Aires has a different system. Its territory is divided into 134 districts called partido
Partido
A partido is an administrative subdivision of the . They are formally considered to be a single municipality, and usually contain one or more population centers...
s, which are technically municipalities, even though they usually contain several cities and towns.
Regardless of the province, each department/partido has a head town (cabecera), often though not necessarily the largest urban center, and in some provinces often named the same as their parent district.
Municipalities are ruled by mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
s, usually called Intendant (intendente) in the case of cities and towns (the larger categories). A city has a legislative body called the Deliberative Council (Concejo Deliberante). The smaller towns have simpler systems, often ruled by commissions presided by a Communal President (presidente communal) or a similarly named authority.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
city, seat of the National Government, was declared an autonomous city
Autonomous city
Autonomous city is a type of administrative division.-Argentina:The 1994 amendment of the Argentine Constitution granted Buenos Aires city, formerly a federal district of Argentina, the status of autonomous, and changed its formal name to Autonomous City of Buenos Aires .Another large city that is...
by the 1994 constitutional reform
1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution
The 1994 amendment to the Constitution of Argentina was approved on 22 August by a Constitutional Assembly that met in the twin cities of Santa Fe and Paraná...
. Its mayor, formerly chosen by the President of the Republic
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
, is now elected by the people, and receives the title of Chief of Government (Jefe de Gobierno). Other than that, Buenos Aires, as the provinces, has its own Legislative Branch (a unicameral Legislature) and elect deputies and senators
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
as representatives to the National Congress
Argentine National Congress
The Congress of the Argentine Nation is the legislative branch of the government of Argentina. Its composition is bicameral, constituted by a 72-seat Senate and a 257-seat Chamber of Deputies....
.