The Government of the Maldives is a parliamentary democracy that has been in place since 2008. It is made up of three branches: the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary. The Executive branch consists of the President, the Vice President, and the Cabinet Ministers. The Legislative branch is made up of the unicameral Majlis (Parliament), while the Judiciary comprises the Supreme Court, the High Court, and the Courts of the First Instance. This blog post provides an overview of the Government of the Maldives, highlighting its structure, legislative powers, and current issues.
The President
The Government of the Maldives is headed by the President, who is directly elected by the citizens. The President is the head of state and government and has the power to appoint and dismiss cabinet members, judges, and ambassadors. The President is also responsible for the security and defense of the country, including the armed forces.
The Vice President
In the Government of the Maldives, the Vice President is the second highest executive officer and is appointed by the President. The Vice President is responsible for carrying out the duties and functions assigned to them by the President, such as representing the President at international events or chairing meetings. The Vice President is also a key member of the Cabinet of Ministers, which advises the President on the formulation and implementation of government policies. The government of the Maldives follows a unitary form of government with a central government exercising authority over all other state governments in the country. The government is made up of three branches – Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary – that work together to ensure that all laws are enforced and that justice is served throughout the country. The Executive branch consists of the President and their Cabinet, while the Legislative branch consists of the Majlis, or parliament, which consists of 77 members elected by the people every 5 years. The Judiciary branch comprises a Supreme Court, High Court, and other lower courts that oversee all legal matters in the country. All these branches are independent of one another, ensuring that power remains balanced within the government of the Maldives.
The People’s Majlis
The People’s Majlis is the legislative branch of the Government of the Maldives. It consists of 87 elected representatives from each of the 19 administrative atolls, along with an additional 5 members appointed by the President. The Majlis is responsible for enacting laws and overseeing the executive branch. They also review and approve the annual budget and appoint members to the various committees and independent institutions within the Government of the Maldives. In addition, they are tasked with reviewing proposals submitted by ministers and other government officials.
As part of their oversight function, they can also demand information or documents that may have a bearing on their discussions or decisions. Furthermore, they have the authority to summon ministers or other government officers to answer questions related to any matter before the Majlis. Lastly, they are empowered to impeach government officials should they find them guilty of negligence or malpractice in their duties. All in all, the People’s Majlis plays a vital role in ensuring that the Government of the Maldives remains accountable and transparent in its operations.
The Supreme Court
The Government of the Maldives is made up of several branches, including the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest in the country and is responsible for deciding on any issues related to the constitution or laws of the Maldives. The court hears cases of civil, criminal, and constitutional law as well as appeals from lower courts. It is made up of five judges, led by the Chief Justice, and all decisions are made by a majority vote. The Supreme Court also has the power to interpret the constitution and has the power to review the decisions of lower courts. The Government of the Maldives also consists of the Executive branch which is headed by the President who serves as both the head of government and head of state. The President has broad executive powers and appoints cabinet ministers who help run the government departments and carry out executive functions. Legislative powers are vested in the unicameral Majlis, which consists of 87 elected members who serve four-year terms.
The Judiciary of the Maldives is independent of both the executive and legislative branches and consists of three main Courts – Civil Court, High Court, and Criminal Court. Each court deals with specific types of legal matters such as land disputes, family disputes, debt recovery proceedings, and so on. There are also other minor Courts such as Juvenile Courts which handle cases involving minors under 18 years old. Finally, several Tribunals have been set up to hear specific types of legal matters such as labor disputes, immigration matters, etc.
Local Government
The Government of the Maldives is also responsible for local government. Each atoll and island in the Maldives is governed by an elected council which is responsible for providing essential services and amenities to its citizens. These councils are responsible for providing healthcare, waste management, education, transportation, water, and sewerage services, among other services. The councils are headed by a president who is directly elected by the citizens of the respective atoll or island. All members of the local government must be registered, Maldivian citizens. The Government of the Maldives is committed to providing its citizens with access to basic services and infrastructure. It has recently implemented policies such as increasing access to clean drinking water, introducing regulations that mandate proper solid waste management practices, and improving road infrastructure across the country.
Furthermore, the government has launched various programs aimed at reducing poverty, promoting gender equality, and supporting small businesses. It also provides funds for educational initiatives such as scholarships, adult literacy programs, and vocational training centers. Additionally, the government works towards protecting natural resources by implementing sustainable development strategies such as eco-tourism projects and environmental conservation initiatives. With a focus on social welfare and economic progress, the Government of the Maldives is committed to ensuring that all citizens have access to quality education, health care, employment opportunities, and social security benefits.
