| Chile is a democratic state with a presidential republican system. The Constitution establishes three independent branches: the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial. Executive Branch The President of the Republic is both chief of state and head of government, and is elected every four years by popular vote. Under current Chilean law, the President may only hold office for a single four-year period, without the possibility of immediate re-election. Legislative Branch The work of the legislature takes place in the National Congress, comprised of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The country’s citizens elect deputies every four years and senators every eight. The Chamber of Deputies is comprised of 120 representatives. The Senate is comprised of 38 representatives. Judicial Branch The Chilean Judicial Branch is empowered to hear civil and criminal cases, resolve them, and execute their rulings. The highest court is the Supreme Court, which has 21 judges appointed by the President of the Republic subject to prior Senate approval. Over the last decade, Chile underwent a profound judicial reform that has transformed the criminal procedures system from one based on an inquisitive procedure, which dated from the early 19th century, to a modernized accusatory model.
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