How Haiti is governed: a guide to the 1987 Constitution
Haiti’s current constitution was approved by referendum on 29 March 1987, a year after the end of the Duvalier dictatorship. It was written to prevent the return of one-man rule, and it remains the foundation of the Haitian state. It was amended in 2011.
Two heads of the executive
The President is the head of state, elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term, and cannot serve two terms in a row. The Prime Minister is the head of government, chosen by the President and confirmed by Parliament.
Parliament and the courts
Parliament has two chambers: the Senate, with three senators for each department, and the Chamber of Deputies. The highest court is the Cour de Cassation.
Ten departments, two languages
The country is divided into ten departments, which are divided into communes and communal sections. The Constitution recognizes two official languages, Kreyòl and French, and states that Kreyòl is the language that unites all Haitians.
The text and the practice
This guide describes the system as the Constitution sets it out. In practice, Haiti has gone through periods when elections were delayed and transitional authorities governed. For current events, follow trusted news sources.
