The political structure of Estonia is that of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. It’s characterized by a separation of powers, with executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

The executive branch is led by the Prime Minister, who is the head of government, and the President, who is the head of state. The President is largely a ceremonial figure, but they do have some important responsibilities such as representing Estonia abroad, proposing the nomination of the Prime Minister, and being the supreme commander of the national defense of Estonia. The President is elected by the parliament, or in some cases by an electoral body, for a term of five years. The Prime Minister, on the other hand, is appointed by the President but requires the approval of the Parliament. The Prime Minister is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the government and policymaking.

The legislative power is vested in the unicameral parliament, the Riigikogu, made up of 101 members who are elected for a four-year term. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislative branches. It’s made up of three levels of courts: the Supreme Court, the circuit courts, and the county and city courts. The judiciary’s role is to interpret and apply laws, and it also has a constitutional review function.