Benin's Government: A Presidential Republic with a Unicameral Legislature

Benin is a presidential republic. The President is both head of state and head of government, elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term. The National Assembly is the unicameral legislature, with 83 members elected for four-year terms by proportional representation. The Constitutional Court (seven members appointed by the President, National Assembly, and Supreme Court) is the highest judicial authority. This structure has been in place since the 1990 transition to multiparty democracy.