GOVERNMENT
The Arengo,
initially formed with the heads of each family, relinquished its
power to the Great and General Council. In 1243, the first two
Captains Regent were nominated by the Council, and this method
of nomination is still in use today. The Council is composed of
60 members who are elected every 5 years under a proportional
representation system in all nine administrative districts. These
districts (Townships) correspond to the old parishes of the Republic,
and each one is ruled by a Council, which is chaired by a Captain
elected every 5 years. The Great and General Council approves
the budget, as well as the nominations of Captains Regent and
heads of the Executive.
Every
6 months, the Council elects two Captains Regent to be the heads
of state. The Regents are chosen from opposing parties so they
can keep an eye on each other. They serve a 6-month term. The
investiture of the Captains Regent takes place on April 1 and
October 1 in every year. Once this term is over, citizens have
3 days in which to file complaints about the previous Regents'
activities. If they warrant it, judicial proceedings against the
former head(s) of state can be initiated.
The State
Congress, composed of 10 Secretaries, wields executive power.
The 10 Secretaries are (1) Secretary of State for Foreign and
Political Affairs; (2) Secretary of State for Internal Affairs
and Civil Defense; (3) Secretary of State for Finance, Budget
and Programming, Information and Relations with the State Philatelic
and Numismatic Office; (4) Secretary of State for Education, Culture,
University and Justice; (5) Secretary of State for Territory,
Environment and Agriculture; (6) Secretary of State for Health
and Social Security; (7) Secretary of State for Trade and Relations
with the Town Council; (8) Secretary of State for Communication,
Transport, Relations with the Azienda Autonoma di Stato for Services,
Tourism, and Sport; (9) Secretary of State for Industry and Crafts;
and (10) Secretary of State for Labor and Cooperation.
The Great
and General Council elects the Council of Twelve for the duration
of the Legislature and serves a jurisdictional body that also
acts as a third instance Court of Appeals. Two government inspectors
represent the State in financial and patrimonial questions.
The Legislative
body consists of the Great and General Council, the parliament,
and a unicameral Chamber. The members of parliament are usually
elected every five years and are in charge of legislation, justice,
and the administration of jurisdiction. In addition, they are
tasked with electing the Captains Regent, the State Congress,
the Council of Twelve, the Advising Commission, and the Government
Unions once the Council nominates them. Parliament also has the
power to ratify contracts with other countries. The parliament
is divided into five different Advising Commissions consisting
of 15 councils which examine, propose, and discuss the implementation
of new laws that are on being submitted to the Great and General
Council.
The judiciary is composed of the commissioner of the law, the judging magistrate, the appellate judge, the juvenile court, and the judge of last appeal. The commissioner tries civil and penal cases with penalties not exceeding a three-year sentence. The judging magistrates, who are appointed by parliament for a three-year term and can be indefinitely reappointed, preside over all other cases.
Reform legislation, enacted in 2004, no longer requires that the country's lower court judges be noncitizens; however, most lower court judges remained Italian citizens. A local conciliation judge handles cases of minor importance. Under the same reform, the final court of review is the judge of the last appeal. In civil matters, this judge confirms or overrules either the lower court judgment or an appellate decision; in criminal matters, he judges on the legitimacy of detention measures and on the enforcement of a judgment.
On April 28, 2005 a new act established the country's constitutional court with the following functions: 1) to verify that laws, acts, and traditions that are given the force of law conform to constitutional precepts; 2) to verify the admissibility of a referendum; 3) to decide on conflicts between constitutional institutions; 4) to control the activity of the Captains Regent. The court is composed of three standing judges and three alternate judges. They are selected by the Great and General Council with a two-thirds majority to a four-year term. After the first selection one-third of the members of the court are reselected every two years.
POLITICAL
CONDITIONS
San Marino is a multi-party democratic republic. The two main parties are the Christian Democratic Party of San Marino (PDCS), and the Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD), in addition to several other smaller parties. Due to the small size and low population of San Marino, it is difficult for any party to gain a pure majority, and most of the time the government is run by a coalition. Following the November 2008 election results, the PDCS formed a center-right coalition government with the Popular Alliance and several smaller parties.
Because tourism accounts for a large part of the economy, the government relies not only on taxes and customs for revenue but also the sale of coins and postage stamps to collectors throughout the world. In addition, the Italian Government pays San Marino an annual budget subsidy provided under the terms of the Basic Treaty with Italy. In recent years banking has also become an important economic activity.
Harmonization of statutes and policies with the EU is a major domestic and foreign policy priority of the republic. Another priority issue is the signing of a cooperation agreement with Italy, San Marino’s most important economic partner.
Principal
Government Officials
Captains Regent--Massimo Cenci and Oscar Mina (from April 1, 2009 to October 1, 2009)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs--Antonella Mularoni (since December 3, 2009)
Ambassador to the United States--Paolo Rondelli
San Marino has honorary
Consulates General in Washington, DC and New York and honorary
Consulates in Detroit and Honolulu. The honorary Consulate General
in Washington, DC is located at 1899 L Street NW, Suite 500,
Washington, DC 20036.
The Republic
of San Marino's Web Site provides information on politics,
trade, and events in San Marino.
Government
Type: Republic. Constitution: October 8, 1600, electoral law
of 1926 and manuscript of rights (1974) serve some of the functions
of the Constitution.
Branches: Executive--Captains Regent (co-chiefs of state),
Congress of State (cabinet) elected by the Great and General Council,
Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs (head of
government). Legislative--unicameral parliament: 60-member Great
and General Council. Judicial--Council of Twelve.
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities.
Political parties: Christian Democratic Party, Democratic
Progressive Party, San Marino Socialist Party, National Alliance,
Popular Alliance, Communist Refoundation.
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
