Government

Under the constitution of 1976, revised in 1982, 1989, and 1997, Portugal is a democratic parliamentary republic. The constitution provides for a popularly elected parliament called the Assembly of the Republic which has 230 members. The president (head of state), also elected, appoints the prime minister (head of government) and cabinet from the strongest parties in the assembly. The Portuguese president, unlike the head of state in most parliamentary systems, is not a figurehead, but holds considerable power. The president can, for example, veto legislation and dissolve the parliament.