Administration & Government
As per the Constitutional reforms of 2015, the system of government is semi-presidential, meaning that the President must co-exist with a cabinet and a prime minister in a form of a dual executive structure, under the following provisions:
1. Executive
The President appoints and heads the cabinet of ministers. However, the members of the council, the Prime Minister included, are selected by the Parliament.
He serves a 7-year term and he cannot stay in office for more than 2 consecutive terms. He is directly elected by the people and must receive the absolute majority of the votes, either through the first, or a second round carried 24 days after the first.
The eligibility prerequisites demand that:
a) The candidate is of Congolese origin
b) He must have at least 15 years of experience in his profession
c) He must not be younger than 40 and older than 70 years of age
d) He must be of good character
2. Legislative
a) the National assembly
It is considered as the Lower House and is formed by 151 members that serve for five years. They are elected through a two round system, if they did not receive 50%+1 votes on the first round. The current president of the Assembly is Isidore Mvouba.
b) the Senate
is the Upper House. 72 senators serve for six-year terms and are elected by regional, district and local councils. At this time, Pierre Ngolo serves as the president of the body.
3. Local administration
It consists of communes and departments created by statutes. The actual administration is handled through elected councils forming a decentralized form of government that exists through a trusteeship status with the central government.