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Portugal is a parliamentary republic with a president elected by direct
universal suffrage for a five-year term of office. The Government is formed by
the Conselho de Ministros (Council of Ministers/Cabinet), headed by the
Prime Minister, who is politically accountable to the President and Parliament.
Legislative power is exercised by Parliament, composed of a chamber of deputies
with 230 seats. Members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation
for four years. The political parties currently represented in Parliament are:
the PS (Socialist Party), the PSD (Social Democrat Party), the PCP (Portuguese
Communist Party), the CDS-PP (Popular Party), the BE (Left Alliance) and the PEV
(‘The Greens’ Ecology Party).
Portugal is divided into 22 electoral districts, 18 in Continental Portugal,
one in Madeira and three in the Azores. Each district has a Government-appointed
Civil Governor. The Azores and Madeira are Autonomous Regions with directly
elected Regional Parliaments with legislative power which appoint Regional
Governments with substantial executive powers.
Portuguese Law is influenced to some extent by Roman Law. The Portuguese
legal system is comparable to the German and French systems, for example, but
not to the Anglo-American system.
The principal source of law is the Constitution. There are three levels of
courts in Portugal: district courts or courts of first instance, appeal courts
or courts of second instance and the Supreme Court. Each district has a court of
first instance. In some cases the appeal courts may also act as courts of first
instance. The Supreme Court in Lisbon has one presiding judge and 22 judges. Any
lawyer is allowed to act in any court. He/she has the title of Advogado
(lawyer). Remember that once you are in Portugal you are subject to Portuguese
law.
The police may arrest someone:
- (i) if there is reasonable suspicion that he is about to commit a criminal
offence;
- (ii) to prevent future criminal action; or
- (iii) to remove him from the presence of other people. Suspects detained
must be brought before a judge within 48 hours.
All nationals of over 17 years of age must register with the Junta de
Freguesia (parish council - a small administrative unit) in the area where
they live to obtain an Electoral Card, which allows them to vote in the next
elections. Registration becomes permanent at 18 years of age. Such registration
is voluntary for European citizens who live in Portugal, and allows them to vote
in local authority elections and elections to the European Parliament.
Useful references:
Text last edited March 2008
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2009
Reproduction is authorised.
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