Costa Rica is a unitary presidential republic in which the directly elected President serves as both head of state and head of government, working alongside a single-chamber legislature, the 57-seat Legislative Assembly. What makes Costa Rica unusual among the world's democracies is not only the structure of its institutions but the durability of them: the country has held free elections without interruption since 1948 and is the rare nation that governs without a standing army.
The Executive: A President Who Wears Two Hats
At the top of Costa Rica's government sits the President, who is chosen directly by voters for a single four-year term. Unlike parliamentary systems where a prime minister leads the government and a separate figure represents the state, Costa Rica combines both roles in one office. The President sets policy, appoints the cabinet of ministers, conducts foreign affairs, and acts as the symbolic figurehead of the nation.
To win, a candidate must secure at least 40 percent of the vote; if no one clears that threshold in the first round, a runoff between the top two contenders decides the outcome. This two-round design helps ensure the winner enters office with broad popular backing. Presidents may not serve consecutive terms, though a constitutional ruling now permits a former president to return after sitting out two terms. Two Vice Presidents are elected on the same ticket, providing a clear line of succession and continuity if the President cannot continue.
The Legislative Assembly
Costa Rica's lawmaking power rests with the Asamblea Legislativa, a unicameral chamber of 57 deputies. There is no senate or upper house. Deputies are elected for four-year terms through proportional representation, with seats allocated across the country's seven provinces according to population. This system tends to produce a fragmented, multi-party assembly, meaning presidents rarely command an automatic majority and must build coalitions to pass legislation.
Over the decades the political landscape has shifted dramatically. For much of the late twentieth century, two dominant parties traded power, but Costa Rican voters have since embraced a far wider field of competing movements, reshaping the Assembly into a genuinely pluralist body. The Assembly approves the national budget, ratifies treaties, and can investigate the executive, giving it real weight as a check on presidential power.
A Fourth Branch and an Independent Judiciary
Most democracies divide power three ways, but Costa Rica recognizes a fourth pillar: the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones, or TSE). The TSE organizes and certifies every election with constitutional standing equal to the executive, legislature, and judiciary. Its independence is widely credited with keeping Costa Rican elections clean and trusted, a key reason the country has avoided the contested votes and coups that troubled its neighbors.
The judicial branch is led by the Supreme Court of Justice. Within it, the Constitutional Chamber, known as the Sala IV, reviews the constitutionality of laws and government actions and has grown into a powerful guardian of individual rights. Citizens can petition it directly through accessible legal mechanisms, making constitutional protection a practical reality rather than a distant abstraction.
Why Costa Rica Has No Army
Perhaps the single most defining feature of Costa Rican governance is the absence of a military. After a short but decisive civil war in 1948, José Figueres Ferrer led the founding of the Second Republic and abolished the armed forces, a choice later written into the 1949 constitution. The funds that would have gone to defense were redirected toward education, healthcare, and public welfare.
The results have been striking. Costa Rica built one of Latin America's strongest social safety nets, achieved near-universal literacy and healthcare coverage, and now generates well over 90 percent of its electricity from renewable sources in most years. Having declared its independence from Spain in 1821, the country today stands as the only Latin American nation to sustain continuous democratic rule since the mid-twentieth century. For a fuller picture of the nation's geography, culture, and economy, see our costa rica country guide.
Government at a Glance
- Government type: Unitary presidential republic
- Head of state and government: President (one combined office)
- Legislature: Legislative Assembly (unicameral, 57 seats)
- Capital: San José
- Key dates: Independence 1821; Second Republic and abolition of the army 1948
- Distinctive feature: An independent Supreme Electoral Tribunal treated as a fourth branch of government
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of government does Costa Rica have?
Costa Rica is a unitary presidential republic. The President is both head of state and head of government, elected directly by voters, and shares power with a single-chamber legislature and an independent judiciary.
Does Costa Rica have a military?
No. Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 and enshrined that decision in its 1949 constitution. Defense funds were redirected to education and healthcare, and the country relies on civilian police forces for internal security.
How long is a presidential term in Costa Rica?
The President serves a single four-year term and cannot run for re-election immediately. A former president may return only after sitting out at least two terms.
What is the Costa Rican legislature called?
It is the Asamblea Legislativa, or Legislative Assembly, a unicameral body of 57 deputies elected for four-year terms through proportional representation across the country's provinces.