Legal System of Portugal

Portugal is located in Europe. It is geographically situated in southwestern europe, bordering the north atlantic ocean, west of spain. The country achieved independence on 1143 (kingdom of portugal recognized); 1 december 1640 (independence reestablished after 60 years of spanish rule); 5 october 1910 (republic proclaimed). The capital is Lisbon.

Government Overview

Government Type: semi-presidential republic Chief of State: President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016) Head of Government: Prime Minister Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO (since 2 April 2024) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister Administrative Divisions: 18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores), Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu National Holiday: Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Portugal is described as civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts International Law: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976 Amendment Process: proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 12 justices); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges) Judge Selection: Supreme Court justices nominated by the president and appointed by the Assembly of the Republic; judges can serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 10 elected by the Assembly and 3 elected by the other Constitutional Court judges; judges elected for 6-year nonrenewable terms Subordinate Courts: Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Portugal Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

A global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. A revolution deposed the monarchy in 1910, and for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup ushered in broad democratic reforms.

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