Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
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The Legislative Assembly (Spanish: Asamblea Legislativa) is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Costa Rica. The national congress building is located in the city capital, San José, specifically in El Carmen District in San José Canton.
Composition
The Legislative Assembly is composed of 57 deputies (diputados), who are elected by direct, universal, popular vote on a proportional representation basis, by provinces, for four-year terms. A constitutional amendment passed in 1969 prevents deputies from serving for two successive terms; however, a deputy may run again for an Assembly seat after sitting out a term.
2002 legislative election
Legislative elections were previously held on 2 February 2002. The percentage vote by party broke down as follows, with the number of Assembly seats indicated being awarded:
- Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC): 30%, 19 seats
- National Liberation Party (PLN): 27%, 17 seats
- Citizens' Action Party (PAC): 22%, 14 seats
- Libertarian Movement Party (PML): 9%, 6 seats
- Others: 12%, 1 seat
However, six deputies defected from the PAC and one from the PML, and so those party's strengths now stand at 8 and 5, respectively.
2006 legislative election
Legislative elections were last held on 5 February 2006. The percentage vote by party broke down as follows, with the number of Assembly seats indicated being awarded [1]:
- National Liberation Party (PLN): 36%, 25 seats
- Citizens' Action Party (PAC): 26%, 17 seats
- Libertarian Movement Party (PML): 9%, 6 seats
- Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC): 8%, 5 seats
- Others: 18%, 4 seats
The next legislative election is to be held in February 2010.
Premises
The Assembly meets in the Edificio Central ("Central Building") located in the city centre of San José. Work began on this building in 1937, with the plan of having it serve as the new presidential palace. Since much of the building materials were imported from Germany and Czechoslovakia, however, the onset of the Second World War put a halt to the project. Work did not recommence until 1957, but by 1958 the legislature was installed and operating in its new premises.
Central American Parliament
Costa Rica is the only Spanish-speaking Central American country not to return deputies to the supranational Central American Parliament.