Government and politics of Algeria

The Government and politics of Algeria takes place within the framework of a semi-presidential constitutional republic, in which the President of Algeria is the head of state, while the Prime Minister of Algeria is the goverment's head. The executive power is exerced by the government. Legislative power rests with both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the National People's Assembly and the Council of the Nation. The armed forces are considered a de facto power in the country.

Since the early 1990s, a shift from a socialist economy to a free market economy has been underway with official support.

Constitution

Under the 1976 Constitution (modified in 1979 and amended in 1988, 1989 and 1996) Algeria is a multi-party state. All matches must be approved by the Home Office. According to the Constitution, a political association cannot be formed if it is "based on differences of religion, language, race, gender, or region."

Executive

President of the Republic

The Head of State is the President of the Republic, elected by universal, direct, and secret suffrage for a five-year term and may not hold office for more than two terms.

The president is the head of the Council of Ministers and the High Security Council. He is also Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, responsible for national defense, decides and directs the Nation's foreign policy. He presides over the Council of Ministers, appoints the prime minister and can also put an end to his functions, signs presidential decrees, has the right to pardon, the right to remission or commutation of the sentence. He can also hold a referendum, adjudicate ornaments, and enter into and ratify international treaties.

The president appoints:

• President of the Council of State.
• Secretary-General of the Government.
• Governor of the Bank of Algeria.
• Judges.
• The heads of security agencies.
• Walis.

Prime Minister

The President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister who is the Head of Government.

The prime minister must present his program for approval by the National People's Congress. This opens a debate, and the head of government will be able to adapt his program to the wishes of parliamentarians. In a second step, the prime minister must deliver a report on his program to the Council of the Nation. If the National People's Assembly rejects the Government's program, the Prime Minister must present the resignation of his government to the President of the Republic, and he will appoint a new Prime Minister in the same terms indicated above. But if the Popular Assembly rejects the program of the new prime minister, the assembly is dissolved and new elections are called. The government is directed by an interim, until the new election of the assembly, which must take place within a maximum period of three months.

The prime minister may ask the parliamentarians for a vote of confidence, if the motion of confidence is not voted, the government must submit its resignation to the President.

The Head of Government has several functions:

• It distributes functions among the members of the Government, in accordance with the constitutional provisions.
• He chairs the Governing Council.
• It is in charge of the application of laws and regulations.
• Sign executive decrees.
• It ensures the proper functioning of the public administration.

Legislative

The legislative branch is called the Algerian Parliament, it is bicameral and is made up of:

• National People's Assembly is the lower chamber, with 462 seats directly chosen through the proportional representation system for a period of five years.

• National Council is the high chamber, with 144 seats. Two thirds (96 members) are elected by regional and municipal administrations and the remaining third (48 members) are appointed by the president for six years. Half the seats are renewable every 3 years. The number of members of the Council can reach up to half of the members of the National People ' s Assembly.

The president or either chamber (with the support of a minimum of 20 deputies) can enact bills, but bills must pass through both chambers before becoming law. The sessions of the National People's Assembly are broadcast on television.

Judicial

The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in Algeria. It is made up of four chambers: a private law chamber for civil and commercial cases, a social chamber that presides over labor and social security issues, a penal chamber, and an administrative chamber.

Elections

• Legislative elections of Algeria of 2017
• Algerian presidential elections of 2019

Administrative divisions

Algeria is divided into 48 wilayas (regions) headed by walis. Each wilaya is divided into daïras, which are further subdivided into communes.

Each wilaya and commune are governed by an elected assembly. They are called the Assemblée Populaire de Wilaya (APW) and the Assemblée Populaire Communale (APC).