State in Portugal

Portugal is a sovereign, democratic, and unitary republic. Its basic rules are set out in the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, which defines public institutions, citizens' rights, and limits on state power. The main national institutions are called órgãos de soberania, or organs of sovereignty. They are the President of the Republic, the Assembly of the Republic, the Government, and the courts. The President of the Republic, or Presidente da República, is the head of state. The President represents Portugal, protects the regular functioning of democratic institutions, and has specific constitutional powers. The Assembly of the Republic, or Assembleia da República, is the national parliament. Its members are elected, debate public matters, approve laws and the state budget, and supervise the Government. The Government, or Governo, is led by the Prime Minister. It directs public policy and the public administration through ministries and other services, such as education, health, justice, transport, and social protection. The courts apply the law and settle disputes. Judges and courts are separate from the Government, and people can use legal procedures to defend rights, challenge decisions, or resolve conflicts. Portugal also has local government, known as poder local or autarquias locais. The two main local levels are municípios, governed through the câmara municipal and municipal assembly, and freguesias, which manage matters close to residents. The Azores and Madeira are autonomous regions with their own regional political institutions. Districts remain useful geographical and administrative references, but they are not the same as elected local governments. Public services may be managed nationally, regionally, or locally. The correct office depends on the subject, so a resident should first identify whether the matter concerns a ministry, municipality, freguesia, court, or another public authority.