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Political system

Distinguish sovereign organs, elections, representation, and local and regional government under Portugal’s Constitution.

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Sources and citations

  1. Constituição da República Portuguesa

    Assembleia da RepúblicaDocument version:

    Source verified:

    Artigos 2.º–3.º; 6.º; 10.º; 108.º; 110.º–115.º; 120.º–123.º; 126.º; 128.º; 132.º; 136.º; 147.º–152.º; 162.º–163.º; 182.º; 187.º; 190.º; 203.º–205.º; 221.º–222.º; 225.º; 230.º–231.º; 235.º–239.º; 244.º–246.º; 250.º–252.º; 255.º

    Official fact

Learning questions

To whom does political power belong under the Constitution?

  1. AThe peopleCorrect answer
  2. BThe President in their own name
  3. CExclusively the courts
  4. DExclusively the Government

Explanation

Articles 3 and 108 place sovereignty and political power in the people, exercised under the Constitution.

Sources and citations

  1. Constituição da República Portuguesa

    Assembleia da RepúblicaDocument version:

    Source verified:

    Artigo 3.º, n.os 1–3; 108.º

    Official fact

Which principle forms part of the democratic rule of law in Article 2?

  1. APolitical representation through one compulsory party
  2. BCourts subordinate to the governing party
  3. CPluralism in democratic political expression and organizationCorrect answer
  4. DPublic participation reserved for Government members

Explanation

Article 2 connects democracy with pluralism, fundamental rights, and separation and interdependence of powers.

Sources and citations

  1. Constituição da República Portuguesa

    Assembleia da RepúblicaDocument version:

    Source verified:

    Artigo 2.º

    Official fact

Which set contains only sovereign organs?

  1. APresident, Parliament, Government and courtsCorrect answer
  2. BPresident, Parliament, Government and municipal executives
  3. CPresident, regional Legislative Assemblies, Government and courts
  4. DPresident, Parliament, parish boards and courts

Explanation

Article 110 lists four sovereign organs. Regional and local bodies belong to other levels.

Sources and citations

  1. Constituição da República Portuguesa

    Assembleia da RepúblicaDocument version:

    Source verified:

    Artigo 110.º, n.º 1

    Official fact

How do sovereign organs relate to each other?

  1. AGeneral subordination of all to the Government
  2. BIsolation without any control mechanism
  3. CFree delegation of powers for convenience
  4. DConstitutional separation and interdependenceCorrect answer

Explanation

Article 111 combines separation with interdependence. Delegation is possible only in expressly provided cases and terms.

Sources and citations

  1. Constituição da República Portuguesa

    Assembleia da RepúblicaDocument version:

    Source verified:

    Artigo 111.º, n.os 1–2

    Official fact

Which set corresponds to legislative acts in Article 112?

  1. ALaws, court judgments and decree-laws
  2. BLaws, decree-laws and regional legislative decreesCorrect answer
  3. CDecree-laws, petitions and regional legislative decrees
  4. DLaws, municipal regulations and court judgments

Explanation

Article 112 lists these three legislative forms, distinguishing legislation from judgments and other acts.

Sources and citations

  1. Constituição da República Portuguesa

    Assembleia da RepúblicaDocument version:

    Source verified:

    Artigo 112.º, n.os 1–4

    Official fact