Eleanor Finch
Liberia is a unitary constitutional republic and representative democracy, with a government modelled on that of the United States. The country's constitution, established in 1986, replaced the 1847 Constitution, which was suspended in 1980 following a coup d'etat. The 1986 Constitution calls for a multiparty system, with a directly elected president serving as head of state and government for a six-year term. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Legislature, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, while the judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court. Liberia's government has three co-equal branches, with the executive branch headed by the president, who is commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and has the power to sign or veto legislative bills, grant pardons, and appoint public officials. The country's politics have been historically dominated by the Americo-Liberian/Congo settler community, with the True Whig Party holding power from 1876 until the 1980 coup. Liberia has experienced two civil wars, driven by economic deprivation and power struggles, and is still transitioning to democracy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Form of Government | Unitary constitutional republic and representative democracy |
| Branches of Government | Three co-equal branches: executive, legislative, and judicial |
| Head of State | President |
| Election of President | Elected to a six-year term by majority vote in a two-round system |
| Maximum Presidential Terms | Two terms |
| Legislature | Bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives |
| Multiparty System | Yes |
| Political Parties | Over 20 registered parties |
| Judiciary | Supreme Court and several lower courts |
| Judicial Authority | Supreme Court, made up of five members and headed by the Chief Justice of Liberia |
| Judicial System | Blend of common law and customary law |
| Traditional Courts | Exist in some communities, allowing ethnic groups to govern themselves according to customary law |
| Human Rights | Arbitrary arrest and detention are prohibited; constitution stipulates the creation of a claims court |
| Freedom of Expression | Ranked in the top 25% globally |
| Basic Welfare | Ranked in the bottom 25% globally |
| Economic Equality | Ranked in the bottom 25% globally |
| Absence of Corruption | Ranked in the bottom 25% globally |
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What You'll Learn
The Liberian government is modelled on the US government
Liberia's government is modelled on the US government, with executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The Liberian government is a unitary constitutional republic and representative democracy, established by the Constitution. The government has three co-equal branches: the executive, headed by the president; the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Legislature of Liberia; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and several lower courts. The president serves as head of government, head of state, and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia. They are responsible for signing or vetoing legislative bills, granting pardons, and appointing Cabinet members, judges, and other public officials.
The Liberian Constitution, which was promulgated in 1847, was replaced by a new Constitution in 1986. The new Constitution was drafted by a 25-member National Constitution Committee (NCC) and underwent several reviews before being approved in a national referendum in 1984. It calls for a multiparty system and outlines the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the government.
The US government, on which the Liberian government is modelled, has a similar structure. It consists of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The US Constitution, which was ratified in 1788, established the framework for the US government and outlined the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the government. It is worth noting that the United States did not recognize Liberia's independence until 1862.
The Liberian government has faced challenges, including political unrest, civil wars, and dictatorships. However, with the establishment of the 1986 Constitution and the subsequent democratic elections, Liberia has made strides towards a more stable and democratic government. The country's future prospects for democratic stability and civil liberties are promising, given the strong roots of electoral competition since the civil wars ended.
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The country's constitution was established in 1986
Liberia's current constitution, which came into force on 6 January 1986, replaced the Liberian Constitution of 1847, which had been in force since the country's independence. The 1986 Constitution was established to ensure a democratic government that responded to the wishes of the governed. It is the supreme law of the Republic of Liberia and establishes a system of government modelled after the United States federal government.
The 1986 Constitution was preceded by a period of political upheaval. In 1980, there was a revolt against the Americo-Liberians and their True Whig Party, which had dominated the Liberian government since 1876. This led to the suspension of the 1847 Constitution and the establishment of the People's Redemption Council, led by Samuel Doe. A 25-member body, the National Constitution Committee, was tasked with drafting a new constitution. The new Constitution was approved in a referendum in 1984 with 78.3% of the vote and came into effect in 1986 with the inauguration of Doe and the newly elected Legislature of Liberia.
The 1986 Constitution established a presidential system of government with three branches: the executive, headed by the president; the legislative, consisting of a bicameral Legislature of Liberia (the Senate and the House of Representatives); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and several lower courts. The president serves as the head of government, head of state, and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia. The president is directly elected for a six-year term and can serve up to two terms. The members of the bicameral National Assembly are also directly elected, serving six-year terms in the House of Representatives and nine-year terms in the Senate.
The 1986 Constitution also included provisions for the right to form political parties, freedom of competition of ideas, and the right to vote. It established a multiparty system, with over 20 political parties currently registered in the country. The Constitution also expanded political rights to include a variety of economic and social rights, such as equal access to education and the protection of traditional Liberian culture.
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Liberia is a unitary constitutional republic
The country's political process was stable until the end of the First Republic in 1980, after which political unrest and violence ensued. From 1980 to 2006, Liberia was governed by a series of military and transitional governments, with the Second Liberian Civil War taking place between 1999 and 2003. A power-sharing agreement in 2003 largely ended the fighting and created a National Transitional Government, which ruled until a democratically elected administration was installed in 2006.
Liberia's government is still in transition from dictatorship and civil war to democracy. The country's future prospects for democratic stability and civil liberties are strong, given the increasing stability of electoral competition since the civil wars ended. The Republic of Liberia performs in the middle range across all four categories in the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework, with improvements noted in Elected Government. However, poverty, endemic corruption, and weak service provision continue to pose challenges to the country's democratic development.
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The country has a history of civil war and dictatorship
Liberia has experienced a tumultuous history, marked by civil war, dictatorship, and political unrest. The country's politics have been influenced by the tension between Americo-Liberians and indigenous groups, with the former establishing political and economic dominance in coastal areas. From 1877 to 1980, the True Whig Party dominated the Liberian government, creating a stable, one-party state. This ended abruptly in 1980 with a revolt against the Americo-Liberians, leading to a series of military and transitional governments until 2006.
The First Liberian Civil War took place between 1989 and 1990, resulting in the deaths of over 200,000 Liberians and displacing a million more. An Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) was formed in October 1990, but Charles Taylor, a former rebel leader, refused to work with them and continued the war. Taylor became president in 1997, and his use of ""blood" diamonds and illegal timber exports to fund the Revolutionary United Front in the Sierra Leone Civil War made Liberia a pariah state. The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy launched an armed insurrection against Taylor. By 2003, peace talks were underway, and Taylor was indicted for crimes against humanity. He resigned and went into exile in Nigeria.
The country's infrastructure was devastated by the civil wars, and hundreds of thousands of Liberians were left homeless. A power-sharing agreement in 2003 created a National Transitional Government (NTG), supported by United Nations peacekeeping troops. This government ruled until a democratically elected administration was installed in 2006.
Liberia's government is modelled on the American system, with three co-equal branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. The country's 1986 Constitution calls for a multiparty system, and over 20 political parties are currently registered. However, Liberia's future prospects for democratic stability are promising, given the strong roots of electoral competition since the civil wars ended.
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Liberia has a multi-party system
The 1986 Constitution calls for a multi-party system, with the President as the head of state and government. The President is directly elected for a six-year term and has the power to appoint Cabinet members, judges, and other public officials. The legislative branch is made up of the bicameral National Assembly, with members serving six-year terms in the House of Representatives and nine-year terms in the Senate.
There are currently over 20 political parties registered in Liberia, including the Unity Party, the Congress for Democratic Change, the Alliance for Peace and Democracy, the United People's Party, the National Patriotic Party, and the Liberty Party. The country's politics have historically been dominated by the True Whig Party, which created what was effectively a stable, one-party state until the 1980 coup. Since then, Liberia has experienced political unrest, civil war, and transitional governments.
The country's future prospects for democratic stability are strong, with electoral competition becoming increasingly rooted since the end of the civil wars. The 2024 election, in which George Weah conceded to Joseph Boakai, was celebrated in the region as a positive step toward better governance.
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Frequently asked questions
A constitutional democracy is a system of government that is set out by a constitution and elected representatives.
Liberia's government was established in 1847, modelled on the American government, with three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. Political parties were legalised in 1984 and civilian rule was established in 1986. However, there was much political unrest and violence from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, with two civil wars taking place between 1989 and 2003. A power-sharing agreement in 2003 ended the fighting and created a National Transitional Government, which ruled until a democratically elected administration was installed in 2006.
Liberia is still in transition from dictatorship and civil war to democracy. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated it a "hybrid regime" in 2022. Liberia has one of the lowest GDPs per capita in the world and is one of the poorest countries globally. However, it ranks among the top 25% of countries in Freedom of Expression, and its future prospects for democratic stability are strong.
The Liberian constitution, established in 1986, replaced the 1847 constitution. It outlines the three branches of government and includes provisions for freedom and equality, the right to challenge arrest or detention, and the right to regular elections and appointments.
