GOVERNMENT

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Ecuador is a sovereign democratic republic. The president and vice-president are elected for four-year terms by popular, direct, and secret voting. The president may not be reelected to a second term. The chief executive is aided by a cabinet. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral National Chamber of Representatives, also called the Congress. Twelve of its members are popularly elected to four-year terms at the national level; the remaining 59 are elected to two-years terms at the provincial level.

The chief executive appoints as his representatives the provincial governors. The provincial governors are the political chiefs in each of Ecuador 's provinces. The provinces are divided into cantones (regions), which are then divided into parishes (parroquias). The chief executive also appoints the political chief in each cantón and a political lieutenant in each parochial district. Every province also has a provincial council presided over the provincial prefect.

Each cantón constitutes a municipality. The governing of which is in the hands of a cantón council. The council of each provincial capital is headed by a mayor.

The province is governed by the prefect. The provincial council constitutes the legislative component of the province.