Costa Rica Government

Structure and Organization

Costa Rica is a became a democratic republic upon adoption of its Constitution in 1949.

Costa Rica's president serves as the nation's chief executive and as the head of state, whom Costa Ricans elect to a four-year term.
More info: Historical presidents of Costa Rica.

The president of Costa Rica and the members of the Cabinet make up the Council of Government. The council conducts foreign affairs and enforces federal laws. It may also veto bills passed by the Legislative Assembly, Costa Rica's Legislature.

The Legislative Assembly has 57 deputies elected by the people to four-year terms. Neither the president nor the deputies may be elected to two terms in a row. The Supreme Court of Justice, the nation's highest court, has 17 justices appointed by the legislature. The army was abolished in 1948, but military forces may be organized for national defense if necessary.

Costa Rica has seven provinces. The provinces are divided into 80 cantons (counties). Each province has a governor who is appointed by the president. A council elected by the people governs each canton. The cantons provide fire protection, sanitation, water, and other local services.

All citizens 18 years or older may vote in national elections. The country has two major political parties, the National Liberation Party and the Social Christian Unity Party.

Revolutions and Reforms

Since the late 1800's, Costa Rica has had several revolutions. General Tomás Guardia overthrew the government in 1870 and ruled as a dictator for 12 years. He encouraged large-scale cultivation and heavy exports of coffee. His government improved the public school system and built a railroad from San José to Limón. In 1917, Federico Tinoco seized the presidency. Political turmoil forced him to resign in 1919, and Julio Acosta became the new leader. Under Acosta and his successors, Costa Rica became a model of democracy and social reform.

In 1948, Otilio Ulate won the presidential election, but the National Assembly declared the results illegal. Colonel José Figueres the led a revolt in support of Ulate to prevent what he said was a threatened Communist takeover. Figueres too office as interim president, reorganized the government, and place banks under federal control. He also replaced Costa Rica's army with a 4,000-member Civil Guard with officers loyal to him. In 1949, Ulate was inaugurated as president.

Costa Rican elected Figueres to the presidency in 1953. He raised the minimum wage, expanded the public school system, and increased the tax on imports. In 1955, a band of exiled Costa Ricans staged an air and land invasion of the country from Nicaragua. The revolutionaries tried to overthrow the Figueres government, but were quickly defeated. President Mario Echandi, who served from 1958 to 1962, tried to reduce the government's control over the economy. But the Legislative Assembly blocked many of his proposals. Francisco J. Orlich was elected president in 1962.

From 1963 to 1965, the volcano Irazú showered tons of ash over San José and the surrounding countryside. The eruptions damaged the coffee crop and forced thousands of people to abandon their homes.

Recent Developments

Figueres won the presidency again in 1970, succeeding José Joaquín Trejos-Fernández. Figueres retired in 1974. Since 1974, Costa Rica has had an orderly succession of democratic governments. Costa Rican presidents have all worked to maintain the county's traditional neutrality in international affairs while maintaining good relations with the United States.

In the early 1980's Costa Rica's economy began to decline. In 1985, Costa Rica allowed the United States to train a Costa Rican anti-guerrilla unit to patrol its border with Nicaragua. Civil war had broken out in Nicaragua.

Oscar Arias Sánchez was elected president of Costa Rica in 1986. He faced a worsening economic situation. The country's economic problems included a high unemployment rate, low earnings from exports, and a large foreign debt. The United States increased its financial aid to Costa Rica in response to the problems.