Costa Rica

H

Labor

Agriculture employs 15 percent of the labor force while industry employs 22 percent. The remainder was employed in the public and private service sectors. Labor unions are relatively weak in Costa Rica.

V

Government

Costa Rica is a republic governed under the constitution of 1949.

A

Executive

Executive power is vested in a president and two vice presidents, each of whom is elected by direct popular vote for single four-year terms. Each candidate must receive more than 40 percent of the total vote. Voting is compulsory for all citizens over 18 years of age. The president is assisted by a cabinet of some 20 ministers.

B

Legislature

Legislative power in Costa Rica is vested in a single-chamber Legislative Assembly, with 57 deputies, elected for four-year terms.

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C

Political Parties

The leading political groups in Costa Rica are the National Liberation Party (Partido de Liberación Nacional, or PLN), a reformist party; the Social Christian Unity Party (Partido de Unidad Socialcristiana, or PUSC), a conservative party; and the Citizens’ Action Party (Partido Acción Ciudadana, or PAC), a party formed in 2000 by dissatisfied members of the PLN.

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