Costa Rica is a democratic republic with a very strong system of constitutional checks and balances. Executive responsibilities are vested in a president, who is the country's center of power. There also are two vice presidents and a 20-plus member cabinet. The president and 57 Legislative Assembly Diputados are elected for 4-year terms. In April 2003, the Costa Rican Constitutional Court annulled a 1969 constitutional reform which had barred presidents from running for reelection, which permits ex-presidents to run for reelection after they have been out of office for two presidential terms, or eight years. Diputados may run for reelection after sitting out one term, or four years. On January 1, 2009, the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in Costa Rica.

There are provincial boundaries for administrative purposes, but no elected provincial officials. Costa Rica held its first mayoral elections in December 2002, whereby mayors were elected to 4-year terms by popular vote through general elections. Prior to 2002, the office of mayor did not exist, and the president of each municipal council was responsible for the administration of his/her municipality. The most recent nationwide mayoral elections took place in December 2006.
Autonomous state agencies enjoy considerable operational independence; they include the telecommunications and electrical power monopoly and the state insurance monopoly (all of which will be opened to competition once CAFTA-DR is implemented), the state petroleum refinery, the nationalized commercial banks, and the social security agency. Costa Rica has no military and maintains only domestic police and security forces.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Costa Rica has long emphasized the development of democracy and respect for human rights. The country's political system has steadily developed, maintaining democratic institutions and an orderly, constitutional scheme for government succession. Several factors have contributed to this trend, including enlightened leadership, comparative prosperity, flexible class lines, educational opportunities that have created a stable middle class, and high social indicators. Also, because Costa Rica has no armed forces, it has avoided military involvement in political affairs, unlike other countries in the region.

PRINCIPAL GOVERMENT OFFICIALS
President: Oscar Arias Sanchez
Foreign Minister: Bruno Stagno Ugarte
Ambassador to the United States: Luis Diego Escalante Vargas
Ambassador to the Organization of American States: Jose Enrique Castillo Barrantes
Ambassador to the United Nations: Jorge Urbina Ortega
Costa Rica maintains an embassy in the United States at:
2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: 202-328-6628

Type: Democratic Republic
Independence: September 15, 1821
Constitution: November 7, 1949
Branches:
Executive: President (head of government and chief of state) elected for one 4-year term, two vice presidents, Cabinet (15 ministers, two of whom are also vice presidents).
Legislative: 57-deputy unicameral Legislative Assembly elected at 4-year intervals.
Judicial: Supreme Court of Justice (22 magistrates elected by Legislative Assembly for renewable 8-year terms). The offices of the Ombudsman, Comptroller General, and Procurator General assert autonomous oversight of the government.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at age 18

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Contact Information
Cesar Salazar, Marketing Director
Costa Rica CR Lands

cesar@costaricacrproperties.com
Phone: 506-8-885-4748