The Constitution establishes Chile as a unitarian state, a Republic and a democracy. All Chileans aged 18 and over are
eligible to vote.

The State is divided into three independent powers and various autonomous institutions.

The EXECUTIVE branch is headed by President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, elected on 15 January 2006 - the first woman in Chilean history to hold the office. The President is the Head of State, and is elected to a non-renewable six-year term in a national election.

LEGISLATIVE power resides with Chile's bicameral National Congress, based in the port of Valparaiso. The 48 Senators and 120 Deputies have oversight authority and share legislative duties with the Executive. Every four years the entire Chamber of Deputies is renewed, whereas Senators are elected or designated for eight-year terms.

The JUDICIAL branch comprises the Supreme Court, Appellate Courts and the local tribunals. The Supreme Court judges and its public prosecutors are chosen by the President of Chile from a list of five names submitted by the Court. The Judiciary is an independent branch charged with the administration of justice, and is headed by a 17-member Supreme court which appoints one if its own members as Chief Justice every three years.

Chile is organised into 12 regions plus Metropolitan Santiago, the capital and seat of government.

The AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTIONS are the National Security Council, The Comptroller General of the Republic, the Constitutional Tribunal, The Central Bank of Chile, and the Electoral Certification Tribunal.

Recent decentralisation efforts have transferred many responsibilities to municipal governments. Municipalities, headed by mayors elected to a four-year term by direct balloting, are now responsible for primary healthcare services, as well as public and publicly-subsidised private schools.