Legal System of Bolivia

Bolivia is located in South America. It is geographically situated in central south america, southwest of brazil. The country achieved independence on 6 august 1825 (from spain). The capital is La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital).

Government Overview

Government Type: presidential republic Chief of State: President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025) Head of Government: President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president Administrative Divisions: 9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija National Holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Legal System

The legal system of Bolivia is described as civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and ethnic groups’ pre-colonial law International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 to 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009 Amendment Process: proposed through public petition by at least 20% of voters or by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the Assembly and approval in a referendum

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (consists of 12 judges organized into civil, penal, social, and administrative chambers); Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 7 primary and 7 alternate magistrates); Plurinational Electoral Organ (consists of 7 members and 6 alternates); National Agro-Environment Court (consists of 5 primary and 5 alternate judges; Council of the Judiciary (consists of 3 primary and 3 alternate judges) Judge Selection: Supreme Court, Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal, National Agro-Environmental Court, and Council of the Judiciary candidates pre-selected by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and elected by direct popular vote; judges elected for 6-year terms; Plurinational Electoral Organ judges appointed - 6 by the Legislative Assembly and 1 by the president of the republic; members serve single 6-year terms Subordinate Courts: National Electoral Court; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments); agro-environmental lower courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of bicameral Lower Chamber: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) (130 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): mixed system Upper Chamber: Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores)

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: yes Citizenship by Descent: yes Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Historical Background

Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simón BOLÍVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of coups and countercoups, with the last coup occurring in 1980. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Bolivia based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.