1. January 29,
2020
The Government System of Benin
theweeklyrambler.com/the-government-system-of-benin/
The country of Benin is a country located in the West of the African continent and is
bordered with four countries, Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria and also has a coast
along the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. There was once a kingdom within the
country called the Kingdom of Dahomey, but was eventually annexed by the French into
the rest of Benin which at the time was called the Republic of Dahomey and was part of
the French Empire.
The country got autonomy in 1958 and then full independence from then what was
called the French Community in 1960 and the country later changed its name to Benin in
the mid-1970s.
The country is mostly known for the religion called Vodun which is commonly called
Voodoo outside of the country. The country speaks French as a main language but also
has many prominent ethnic languages from its diverse range of ethnic peoples, the
largest ethnic group are the Fon people and the largest religion is Roman Catholic
followed by Islam and Vodun.
The country’s capital is Porto-Novo, a port city located near the coast alongside an inlet
that leads into the Gulf of Guinea.
The country is also known for its Pendjari National Park safaris.
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2. Government Type
Benin Coat of Arms.Credit. Credit. Here.
After the country’s independence it suffered a series of military coups and power
struggles and eventually became a Marxist-Leninist dictatorship up until the successful
transition to democracy that begun in 1991.
The country used to have both a Prime Minister and President but the Prime Ministerial
position was abolished in 2016 and it is now a full presidential democratic republic. The
President is both the Head of State and Head of Government.
Legislative government is made up of a unicameral democratically elected parliament
and is a multi-party system.
The Executive Government
The Executive Government is headed by the President who as mentioned is Head of
State, representing the country abroad and Head of Government, with a host of
executive powers at his disposal.
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3. The Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meets
the President of Benin, Mr. Patrice Talon, on the
sidelines of the 52nd African Development Bank Annual
meeting, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on May 23, 2017.
Photo by the Indian Prime Minister’s Office. Source.
License. Patrice Talon is the current President of
Benin.
The President is responsible for the nation’s defense and has the Civil Service and Armed
Forces at his disposal. As Supreme Commander the President appoints the Superior
Council of Defense from the Council of Ministers. The President can also order Armed
Forces to cooperate in economic development of the Nation and others tasks of national
interest under conditions defined by the law.
The President also has powers to
appoint members of the executive
government, with advice from the
National Assembly (unicameral
parliament), giving them,
prerogatives and he can also
remove them from their duties, all
members of government are
responsible to the President.
The President presides over a
Council of Ministers that conducts
government policies, government
bills and ordinances and regulatory
decrees.
The President also appoints three of
the seven members of the
Constitutional Court. On advice
from the President of the National
Assembly, the President will appoint
a number of officials and members
from the Council of Ministers to
positions such as the President of
the Supreme Court, President of the
High Authority of Audiovisuals and
Communications and the Grand
Chancellor of the National Order
From the Council of Ministers, the President also appoints members of the Supreme
Court, Ambassadors, special envoys, magistrates, general and superior officials and high
office-holders.
The President also promulgates laws within 15 days that are passed by the National
Assembly, or within 5 days if the National Assembly have declared an emergency. The
President is able to ask the National Assembly to have a second deliberation of the
passed law or certain articles, which cannot be refused. If parliament passes the bill
again the President must promulgate it or he may be overruled by the Constitutional
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4. Court who will pass the bill into law instead if the President refuses to, just as long as the
bill is not deemed unconstitutional. The same procedure happens if the President takes
too long to promulgate the bill.
The above powers performed by the President must be countersigned by a relevant
official/minister for it to have effect. Some powers don’t need to be countersigned, such
as the power to pardon from crime.
The President can be impeached by the judiciary system if he fails to fulfil duties or
breaks the constitution. He can also be dismissed from office by the National Assembly.
The Legislative Government
Public Domain.
The Legislative government is made up of a single unicameral house of parliament that
introduces through committees, amends, debates on and passes or rejects law bills
which go on to be assessed and promulgated by the President, certain laws are known
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5. as organic law and for these to be promulgated, they must first be assessed by the
Constitutional Court to make sure they follow the constitution. The chamber currently
has a set 83 elected members.
If the President dies in office, is removed from power or resigns during his term or if it
become vacant during the term for any other reason, the National Assembly will elect a
new President to serve out the rest of the term.
The National Assembly can form committees of inquiry into the government.
The President keeps the parliament updated on his actions as per the constitution and
the National Assembly keeps the President updated of its activities through the President
of the Assembly. The President can be dismissed from office by the National Assembly
with a two-thirds vote and will after this, if dismissed, elect a new President.
Also, by a two-thirds vote, the National Assembly can suspend the detention or pursuit
of one of its members.
By a three-fourths vote the National Assembly can submit a question to national
referendum.
The National Assembly must authorize declaration of wars, states of emergency or siege.
If the National Assembly is unable to sit due to extraordinary circumstances, then the
President can bring forth declaration of war to be authorized instead by the Council of
Ministers.
Anyone appointed from the National Assembly to the government must vacate their
seat.
The Electoral System
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6. Photo by Golbez from Wikimedia. License.
Presidential elections are held every 5-years to elect the President. Candidates require at
least 50% of the popular vote to be elected, if this does not happen a 2nd round is held
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7. between the two best performing candidates from the previous round.
A single person can hold the office of president for a maximum of two terms (10 years)
before having to step aside. To be eligible for President candidates must have Benin
citizenship either from birth or have acquired it for at least 10 years, be of great morality
and honesty, enjoys all civil and political rights, is at least 40-years old but no older than
70-years-old, resides in Benin during the time of elections and enjoys a state of physical
and mental wellbeing which is duly verified by a collegiate board of three doctors sworn
and designated by the Constitutional Court.
The unicameral National Assembly members are elected to 4-year terms in
parliamentary elections. Members are elected from 23 multi-member constituencies
using a party-list proportional representation system, where the result a party gets is
reflected in the make-up of parliament using a determined formula.
Eligible candidates for the National Assembly must be at least 25-years-old, have Benin
citizenship from birth or for at least 10-years, resided in Benin for at least a year. Certain
things can disqualify candidates such as electoral fraud.
To vote in elections a person must have Benin citizenship, be at least 18-years-old, enjoy
all civil and political rights. Some things disqualify voters such as being sentenced to at
least three months in prison or being in contempt of court. Voting is not compulsory.
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