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Political Structure


The president is head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces; elected for a four-year term; can be re-elected for one consecutive term; appoints a cabinet and a chief of cabinet, who can be removed by a majority vote in each chamber. The current president, Eduardo Duhalde, was appointed by a congressional assembly in January 2002 after the resignation of Fernando de la Rua in a convoluted, but constitutional, succession.

Regional legislatures
23 states and one autonomous federal district; states and the federal district retain those powers not vested in the national government and elect state legislators, governors and local officials.

Legal system
Federal judges appointed by a Council of Magistrates; Supreme Court system both nationally and in the provinces; national Supreme Court members require the endorsement of two-thirds of the Senate .

National legislature
Bicameral Congress: 257-member Chamber of Deputies, directly elected for a four-year term; one-half of the lower house stands for re-election every two years; 72-member Senate; directly elected for a six-year term; three senators are elected per state, two from the leading party and one from the runner up; one-third of the Senate stands for re-election every two years.



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