| ics in Panama has been more of constitutional | | | | independent commissions that functions |
| democracy throughout the 20th century. The | | | | separately from the three executive branches. |
| history of coup led by General Manuel Noriega | | | | One of which is the Electoral Tribunal which takes |
| back in 1968 has brought power to the military as | | | | responsibility in the electoral law and policies and |
| Noriega had manipulated most of the highest | | | | its implementation. They are in charge of |
| officials of the government. It resulted to | | | | voter’s registration, flow of election, |
| economic and diplomatic conflicts within Panama | | | | judgment of electoral conflicts and disputes and |
| which affects the US relation to Panama. When | | | | other matters related to election. Politics of |
| Panama lost efforts to remove the dictatorship | | | | Panama also involves the independent |
| of Noriega, the US stepped with intentions to | | | | responsibility of the Controller General of the |
| protect its assets established in Panama. When | | | | Republic of Panama whose main function is to |
| Noriega had slowly lost its power with low civil and | | | | take charge of State funds. They are responsible |
| public supports, he surrendered to the US. The | | | | for managing public fund taking into account |
| Panama was then restored to democracy by | | | | budget flow and expenditures of the State. Also, |
| 1991. | | | | independent responsibilities are given to the |
| At present, politics in Panama is under the | | | | Ministry of Public whose main function is to |
| framework of constitutional representative | | | | oversee the country’s interests and its |
| democracy. There are three branches of the | | | | municipalities. |
| government namely executive, legislative and | | | | The most known and active political party of |
| judicial. The executive branch consists of the | | | | Panama is Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) |
| president who is elected by the people for a term | | | | who concerns with economic matters and |
| of five years. He serves as the head of the | | | | focuses on Panama’s child’s |
| government and the head of the state and | | | | welfare and urban poor. Other political parties of |
| appoints the members of the national cabinet. | | | | Panama include The Arnulfist Party, the |
| Currently, the president of Panama is Martin | | | | president’s current party, which |
| Torrijos who was elected since 2004. Together | | | | emphasizes on rural population of Panama. The |
| with the president are two vice presidents. The | | | | National Liberal Republican Movement and |
| two vice presidents in the current politics in | | | | Democratic Change and The Popular Block are |
| Panama are Samuel Lewis Navarro who serves | | | | two political parties that consist of pro-business |
| as the first vice president and Ruben Arosemena | | | | groups and former Christian Democrats. These |
| Valdez serving as the second vice president. They | | | | two parties comprise the upper and middles class |
| are also elected for the same term. Legislative | | | | with ties on the business community in Panama. |
| branch previously consists of 78 members but | | | | Politics of Panama has been generally corrupt in |
| was changed to 74 in the 2004 political reform. | | | | the past years. However, there are various |
| Finally, the national Supreme Court, the 5 superior | | | | attempts from the current government to make |
| courts and 3 courts of appeal composed the | | | | political reforms to support sustainable economic |
| judicial branch of Panama. | | | | development in Panama. |
| The politics of Panama also composes other | | | | |