Chile is a republic in which the presidency sits at the center of national executive authority. José Antonio Kast serves as President of Chile, combining the roles of head of state and head of government under the country's constitutional framework.
Chile is a presidential republic in which the president is the central national executive and serves as head of state and, in constitutional terms, head of government or chief executive. The president appoints or directs the cabinet under the rules of the constitution, while the legislature has a separate mandate and exercises lawmaking, budgetary, and oversight functions.
Legislative authority is exercised through a bicameral national parliament. The two chambers share responsibility for passing laws and approving public finances, with their precise powers and methods of selection defined by the constitution. Parliamentary committees and plenary sessions provide formal mechanisms for scrutiny, while the courts are institutionally separate and may review government action as permitted by law.
Chile is a unitary state, meaning sovereign authority is principally vested in national institutions, although local and regional governments exercise powers assigned by law. The constitution defines the relationship among the executive, legislature, judiciary, and subnational administration. Political authority is exercised through the constitutional institutions described above, with elections, parliamentary confidence, or other constitutional procedures determining who holds office.
