Government and Politics of San Marino

Government Type

independent republic

Administrative Divisions

9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle

Legal System

based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of San Marino dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: co-chiefs of state Captain Regent Alessandro ROSSI and Captain Regent Milena GASPERONI (for the period 1 October 2024 - 31 March 2025) head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Luca BECCARI (since 3 January 2020) cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Grand and General Council for a five-year term elections: co-chiefs of state (Captains Regent) elected by the Grand and General Council for a six-month term; elections held twice yearly, in March and September; Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs elected by the Grand and General Council for a five-year term; last election held 9 December 2019 election results: Alessandro ROSSI and Milena GASPERONI elected Captains Regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Luca BECCARI elected Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (co-chiefs of state) for a six-month term; they preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which includes 10 other members, all selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the Captains Regent are 10 secretaries of state; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has assumed many of the prerogatives of a prime minister

Legislative Branch

unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 10 June 2001 (next to be held by June 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - PDCS 41.4%, PSS 24.2%, PD 20.8%, APDS 8.2%, RC 3.4%, AN 1.9%; seats by party - PDCS 25, PSS 15, PD 12, APDS 5, RC 2, AN 1

Judicial Branch

Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII

Political Parties

Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Ideas in Movement or IM [Alessandro ROSSI]; National Alliance or AN [leader NA]; Party of Democrats or PD [Claudio FELICI]; San Marino Christian Democratic Party or PDCS [Giovanni LONFERNINI]; San Marino Popular Alliance of Democrats or APDS [Roberto GIORGETTI]; San Marino Socialist Party or PSS [Alberto CECCHETTI]; Socialists for Reform or SR [Renzo GIARDI]

Head of State

Co-Chiefs of State Captain Regents Marco Conti and Glauco Sansovini

Head of Government

Antonella MULARONI

Cabinet

Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term

Elections

co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in September 2009 (next to be held in March 2010); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held on 9 November 2008 (next to be held by 2013)

Election Results

Francesco MUSSONI and Stefano PALMIERI elected captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Antonella MULARONI elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has 10 other members, all are selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some prime ministerial roles

Constitution

8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution

Independence

3 September 301

National Holiday

Founding of the Republic, 3 September (301)

International Organization Participation

CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

San Marino does not have an embassy in the US honorary consulate(s) general: New York, Washington, DC honorary consulate(s): Detroit, Honolulu

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is accredited to San Marino

Capital City

San Marino (city)

Location

43 56 N, 12 25 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

named after Saint MARINUS, who in A.D. 301 founded a monastic settlement around which the city and later the state of San Marino coalesced

See Italy entry

Military Branches

no regular military forces; voluntary Military Corps (Corpi Militari) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support functions

Service Age and Obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; government has the authority to call up all San Marino citizens from 16-60 years of age to service in the military