El Salvador operates as a democratic republic, where power is divided among three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. The President, who serves as the head of state and government, is elected by a simple majority vote through universal suffrage for a single five-year term. The President is the primary actor in setting national policies, representing the country internationally, and overseeing the work of the executive branch, which includes various ministries and agencies responsible for executing the national policies. The President can also propose legislation to the Legislative Assembly.

The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador is unicameral, consisting of 84 deputies who are elected to serve for three-year terms. The deputies are elected from 14 electoral districts, which correspond to El Salvador’s 14 departments, and are allocated based on population size. The Legislative Assembly has significant power, including the abilities to create and pass laws, levy taxes, ratify treaties, and approve the national budget. In addition to these functions, the Assembly also has the power to declare war and ratify peace, authorize the President to leave the country, and can even impeach the President and other public officials.

The judicial branch is the third pillar of El Salvador’s government. The Supreme Court of Justice heads this branch, composed of 15 judges who are elected by the Legislative Assembly for nine-year terms. The Supreme Court is subdivided into four chambers: Constitutional, Civil, Penal, and Administrative Disputes. The Constitutional Chamber is particularly important, given its role in interpreting the Constitution. Moreover, it has the power to rule the unconstitutionality of laws passed by the Legislative Assembly. The judicial branch of El Salvador also includes other courts such as the courts of First Instance and Courts of Peace, which handle most of the everyday legal issues and disputes.