V.

Government

Senegal is a democratic republic, governed under a constitution promulgated in 2001. The 2001 constitution replaced the country’s first constitution, which had been promulgated in 1963.

A.

Executive

Executive power is vested in a president, who is popularly elected to a five-year term. The president appoints the prime minister, who, in consultation with the president, appoints a cabinet, called the Council of Ministers.

B.

Legislature

Senegal’s legislative body is the unicameral (single-chamber) National Assembly, whose 120 members are popularly elected to five-year terms.

C.

Judiciary

In addition to lower courts and tribunals that cover civil and criminal cases, the Senegal judicial system consists of three higher courts: the Constitutional Council, the Council of State, and the Court of Cassation (also known as the Court of Final Appeal). The Constitutional Council is made up of five members, who are appointed by the president of Senegal to serve for six years, without possibility of renewal. This court reviews international agreements and legislation to verify their accordance with the constitution; decides disputes between the executive and legislative branches; and determines the jurisdictions of the Council of State and the Court of Cassation. The Council of State hears cases against the executive branch, such as complaints of abuse of power, and resolves electoral disputes. The Court of Cassation is the highest court of appeal, and it supervises lower courts and tribunals.

D.

Local Government

For the purpose of local administration, Senegal is divided into ten regions, each with a governor appointed by the president and an elected local assembly.

E.

Political Parties

After April 2001 elections, the largest political bloc in the National Assembly was the Sopi (Wolof for “change”), an alliance of former opposition parties that formed around the Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS; Senegalese Democratic Party). Until 2001 the PDS was the main opposition party in Senegal. The Parti Socialiste (PS; Socialist Party) was the ruling party of Senegal from the time of independence in 1960 until the presidential election of 2000.