The Government in Romania

The government of Romania is a semi-presidential democratic republic as defined on its Constitution, which is based on the Constitution of France’s Fifth Republic. The Romanian Constitution of 1991, amended in 2003, declares the country a democratic and social republic. It also nominates a President, a Parliament, a Constitutional Court and a separate organization of lower courts that consist of The High Court of Cassation and Justice.

The Romanian government composes of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. The Prime Minister is the head of government while the President is the head of state and of a multi-party system. The President is chosen through a popular voting system and serves a for up to two 5-year terms after the 2003 amendment; the current president is Traian Băsescu. He acts as supreme commander of the armed forces and chairmain of the Supreme Council of National Defense. The President nominates the Prime Minister from the majority party in the Parliament; the current Prime Minister is Emil Boc. The Prime Minister then appoints the Council of Ministers. The President resides at the Cotroceni Palace while the Prime Minister and the Romanian government are based at Victoria Palace.

The Romanian legislature is made up of a bicameral parliament – the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. All members are elected for 4-year term through a universal suffrage under a mixed member proportional representation. As of 2004, Romania has 137 senators and 332 deputies; of the 332 deputies, 314 are nominated, and 18 are set aside for ethnic minorities.

The legal system of Romania is grounded from the Napoleonic Code. The judicature is independent, and judges selected by the President are not removable. The High Court of Cassation and Justice is the highest judicial power.