Captains Regent San Marino
Every 6 months, the Great and General Council of San Marino elects two Captains Regent (Capitani Reggenti) to be the heads of state .
San Marino Institutions San Marino Government San marino Information
San Marino Institutions: the Politics of San Marino takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Captains Regent are the heads of state, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Grand and General Council. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
San Marino Institutions
San Marino Military
San Marino has one of the smallest military forces in the world. Its different branches have varied functions including: performing ceremonial duties; patrolling borders; mounting
San Marino Independence
San Marino Independence: The Republic of San Marino does not have its own written constitution but finds its reference standards in the statutes, laws, common rights and habit.
San Marino International Relations
San Marino International Relations: The Republic of San Marino holds official relations with more than seventy countries. It is a member of the most important international organizations, the United Nations, the O.
San Marino Great and General Council
The Republic of San Marino does not have its own written constitution but finds its reference standards in the statutes, laws, common rights and habit.
San Marino National Anthem
San Marino National Anthem: The national anthem of San Marino, which stands aside from others because it has no lyrics, was written by Maestro Federico Consolo, eminent violinist, composer and writer.
San Marino Justice
San Marino Justice: the various phases of penal justice is administered by Commissioner of the Laws and by the Judge of Appeals; civil justice is also headed by the
San Marino was originally led by the Arengo, initially formed with the heads of each family. In the 13th century, power was given to the Great and General Council. In 1243, the first two Captains Regent were nominated by the Council. This method of nomination is still in use today, as of 2007.
The legislature of the republic is the Grand and General Council (Consiglio grande e generale). The Council is a unicameral legislature which has 60 members with elections occurring every 5 years under a proportional representation system in all nine administrative districts. These districts (townships) correspond to the old parishes of the republic. Citizens eighteen years or older are eligible to vote. Besides general legislation, the Grand and General Council approves the budget and elects the Captains Regent, the State Congress (composed of 10 Secretaries with executive power), the Council of Twelve (which forms the judicial branch during the period of legislature of the Council), the Advising Commissions, and the Government Unions.
The Honorable Fiorenzo Stolfi, Secretary for Foreign and Political Affairs and for Economic Planning of the Republic of San Marino and President of the Council of Europe, meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, DC.
The Council also has the power to ratify treaties with other countries. The Council is divided into five different Advising Commissions consisting of 15 councilors which examine, propose, and discuss the implementation of new laws that are on their way to being presented on the floor of the Council.
Every 6 months, the Council elects two Captains Regent to be the heads of state. The Regents are chosen from opposing parties so there is a balance of power. 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 Captains' activities. If they warrant it, judicial proceedings against the ex-head(s) of state can be initiated.
The practice of dual heads of state, as well as the frequent re-election of same, are derived directly from the customs of the Roman Republic. The Council is equivalent to the Roman Senate; the Captains Regent, to the consuls of ancient Rome.
San Marino is a multi-party democratic republic. The two main parties are the Democratic Christian Party of San Marino (PDCS) and the Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD, a merger of the Socialist Party of San Marino and the Party of Democrats) in addition to several other smaller parties. Due to the small size of San Marino and its low population, it is difficult for any party to gain a pure majority and most of the time the government is run by a coalition. As a result of the June 2001 election, the PDCS and PSS control a majority of seats in the Council.
