I talk about Chad's system of government from executive to legislative and how elections work in the country.

1. March 23,
2020
The Government System of Chad
theweeklyrambler.com/the-government-system-of-chad/
Chad is a landlocked country located
in North-Central Africa and is
bordered with six other countries
which are Sudan, Libya, Niger, Nigeria,
Cameroon and the Central African
Republic. The capital city, N’Djamena
is located along the border with
Cameroon, directly facing Cameroon’s
town of Kousseri, both the town and
city are connected by a cross-border
bridge.
Featured Photo: Map from CIA World
Factbook. (I edited in the flag.)
The area that is Chad once had a
number of states and empires within
it that fell and rose. After some time,
the territory that is today Chad was
conquered by the French and
incorporated into their Empire by
1920 and became part of French
Equatorial Africa. After World War II,
France granted Chad increased
autonomy by making it an overseas
territory allowing it to elect its own
representatives, eventually full
independence came on 11th August
1960.
After this the country experienced
tough-times, it became an autocracy
which led to inter-ethnic tensions and
an insurgent group of Muslims in the country’s North, called the National Liberation
Front of Chad started a civil war, leading to the autocratic leader Tombalbaye being
overthrown and killed. Despite this insurgency continued in the country as a number of
factions battled for control. Hissenne Habre, a Chadian politician backed by France and
the US took power as the insurgency continued.
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2. During the choas Libya decided to take advantage and invade the country, which caused
Habre to at least temporarily unite the country to force them back out again. Habre
though would become a corrupt and human rights abusing dictator, with thousands said
to have been killed under his rule. He was eventually overthrown in a coup by his general
in 1990, after which Habre would be put under house arrest and sentenced to life in
prison for war crimes and various human rights abuses.
Idriss Deby, the general who took over in the 1990 coup, reintroduced multi-party
elections in an attempt to reconcile rebel groups and end the ongoing insurgency and a
new constitution was adopted in 1996. Unfortunately, ethnic violence worsened and the
civil war renewed and Deby made moves on constitutional amendments, such as
removing the two-term limit, seen as a possible step towards autocracy again. After
peacekeeping missions from the UN, intervention from France and an agreement for the
restoration of harmony between Chad and Sudan (who were allegedly backing the
rebels) in 2010 led to an end of the civil war, although the country still remains unstable
and it is always possible the civil war could renew. Corruption in government is still
viewed as high.
Chad is a very diverse country with over 200 ethnic and linguistic groups, the largest
being the Sara peoples. The official languages are Arabic and French and the largest
religion is Islam followed by Christianity. Chad’s soaring population is estimated to reach
16,877,357 by July 2020. The country’s currency is the Central African franc, which it uses
alongside Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea
and Gabon.
Government Type
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3. Chad Coat of Arms. ByMilenioscuro from wikimedia. License.
Chad is a Presidential Republic where a President is both Head of State and Head of
Government. There is a democratically elected unicameral chamber called the National
Assembly that makes up the legislative government. Multiple Parties are allowed.
There is currently a Prime Minister but the latest 2018 constitutional amendment has
abolished the position so it is assumed that when the next parliamentary election is held
there will not be a new Prime Minister appointed, so below I am still including the
functions of Prime Minister but please note that many of those functions will soon be
totally in the power of the President, without the need of counter-signature of powers.
Executive Government
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4. Current President Idriss Deby. Photo in Public Domain.
As already stated, the President is both Head of State, where he represents the country
abroad in foreign and diplomatic affairs and also Head of Government where he
oversees and delegates and leads the executive government. The President has many
powers at its disposal.
In the case of temporary absence from the territory or temporary incapacity of the
President, the Prime Minister will be the interim with the powers that were delegated to
them by the President (I would now assume this would be the President of the Assembly
instead). In the case of definitive vacancy and incapacity confirmed by the Constitutional
Council, the President of the National Assembly will become interim leader of the
country, if that person is not available then it will be the Vice-President of the National
Assembly instead, they will remain interim until fresh presidential elections are held
within 45-90 days. The interim leaders have significantly limited powers.
The President appoints the Prime Minister after parliamentary elections and appoints
and dismisses members of the government on proposal of the Prime Minister. The
President presides over the Council of Ministers and signs their orders and decrees.
(Again, note that the appointment of Prime Minister will assumed to no longer happen
whenever new parliamentary elections are held).
The President promulgates laws passed by the National Assembly but within the 15 day
time period of promulgation (8 days if urgent) the President can send a law bill back for
reconsideration (either on all of the bill or certain parts).
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5. On proposal of the government or the National Assembly and opinion of the
Constitutional Council the President can submit a law bill to National Referendum if it
concerns organisation of public powers such as approving an agreement of union or
authorization of treaty ratification.
If public powers are menaced due to persistent crises between executive and legislative
government or if the National Assembly dismisses the government twice in the space of
one-year, the President can, after consultation with the Prime Minister and President of
the National Assembly, dissolve the National Assembly and hold fresh elections within
45-days. This action cannot be repeated for the year following elections.
The President is the Supreme Head of the country’s armed forces. Within the Council of
Minister’s the President appoints high civil and military functions of the state. The
President also presides over the Superior Councils and Committees of the National
Defense.
In the President’s foreign affairs and diplomatic capacity, he accredits and recalls
ambassadors and envoys.
The President has the right to pardon from the law.
Under extraordinary circumstances, after consultation with the President of the National
Assembly and President of the Constitutional Council, the President of the Nation can be
granted exceptional powers for a period not exceeding 15-days and of which can only be
extended by consent of the National Assembly. These powers cannot negate human
rights guaranteed by the constitution.
Some of the President’s powers require counter-signature of the Prime Minister or
Minister concerned to have effect, although most do not. Powers such as the
appointment of Prime Minister, dissolving the National Assembly, referendums, usage of
exceptional powers, appointments to councils (excluding the Council of Ministers) and
appointments made to judicial positions. (Again, note that this section will soon not exist,
although it is unclear if the President may still need counter-signature from elsewhere.)
Government is composed of the Prime Minister (soon to be abolished) and Ministers and
the Council of Ministers – determining governing policy and execution of laws and
maintaining law and order. Within 21-days of being appointment the Prime Minister
must bring forth a Program of Government to the National Assembly which acts as a
vote of confidence in the government. (Unclear how the Government Program would
soon function.)
The Prime Minister presides over the Council of the Cabinet and can substitute for the
President in the presidency of the Council of Ministers and councils and committees of
defense. Acts of the Prime Minister are counter-signed by Ministers concerned for them
to have an effect. (Assumed now the President will take over this or delegate others to do
so).
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6. The Council of Ministers can decree a state of siege or urgency, extending these states
beyond 12 days requires consent of the National Assembly.
In the President’s role of guarantor of judicial independence, he presides over the
Superior Council of the Magistrature. The First Vice-President of this Council is the
Minister of Justice and the Second Vice-President of this Council is the President of the
Supreme Court. Other members of the council are elected by their peers on conditions
set by electoral laws. The Council proposes appointments and promotions of
magistrates and also revocation of magistrates. The President of the Nation by this
guidance appoints, promotes or revokes magistrates.
The Supreme Court, which is the country’s highest court, has a President which is
appointed by the President of the Nation from the high magistrates of the judicial order.
The Supreme Court is made up of 20 further members. 11 of these 20 are chosen from
among senior judges from the judiciary, 6 appointed by the President of the Nation and
5 appointed by the President of the National Assembly. The final 9 are chosen from
among the specialists of Administrative Law, 5 of whom appointed by the President of
the Nation and 4 of whom appointed by the President of the National Assembly. All
members and the President of the Supreme Court serve 7-year-terms and are
irremovable during their terms.
The Constitutional Council is made up of 9-members, they must be three magistrates
and six jurists of high level. The President of the Nation appoints two magistrates and
three jurists and the President of the National Assembly appoints one magistrate and
three jurists. Members serve 9-year non-renewable terms. One-third of the
Constitutional Council is re-appointed every 3-years.
There is a High Court of Justice with 15 members, 10 deputies, two members of the
constitutional council and 3 members of the Supreme Court. Members are elected by
their respective peers and the President of the High Court is elected by members of the
High Court. The High-Court trials the President of the Nation or members of government
charged with high treason and can lead to removal from office.
Legislative Government
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7. Chad’s National Assembly. Photo by Kayhan Ertugrul.License.
Legislative government is made up of a single, unicameral chamber of parliament called
the National Assembly. It has currently 188 elected members, although so far, the same
parliament has been in place since 2011 as the 2015 elections were postponed – which
you can read more about in the Electoral System section below.
The National Assembly is where law bills and motions are introduced, amended, rejected
or passed of which it will then go on to the President of the Nation for promulgation if
passed. After parliamentary elections the members of the National Assembly elect the
President of the National Assembly for the parliaments 4-year term and the Bureau
members as well, which are re-elected each year. A 2/3 vote of parliamentary members
can remove a bureau member such as for substantiated breach and the position is then
re-elected. The President of the National Assembly regulates debate and makes sure
rules are followed.
Both members of the National Assembly and the Government can introduce law bills
and motions to the National Assembly, through the commissions.
Sittings of the National Assembly are public unless one-third of members vote for a
closed session. The Prime Minister can simply also demand a closed session (while he
exists).
An extraordinary session of parliament can be held by demand of majority of members
or demand of the Prime Minister (while he exists). A decree by the Nations President
opens and closes these extraordinary sessions.
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8. Declaration of War is authorized by the Parliament. The decision to send troops abroad
is at the President’s decision and the National Assembly is informed, including objectives,
if an intervention lasts longer than 4 months, prolongation further requires consent from
the National Assembly.
The National Assembly can bring forth a motion of censure against the government by a
signing of at least one-tenth of members and requires a simple majority to pass. If
successful the government resigns and the President would have appointed a new Prime
Minister and on proposal of said Prime Minister a new government, or sometimes under
circumstances of persistent censure, the President may call fresh parliamentary
elections. (this last part would likely no longer happen and it is unclear if censure will be
relevant somehow when the 2018 constitutional amendment is fully implemented and if
so how it would work.)
Electoral System
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9. Image in Public Domain.
Presidential elections happen every 6-years and are elected using a two-round system
whereby if no candidate gets an absolute majority in the first round, a 2nd round is held
between the two best performing candidates which is won by simple majority. The latest
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10. constitution 2018 amendment reintroduced a two-term limit (as well as increasing the
Presidency term from 5 to 6-years).
Requirements for presidential candidates are to be a Chadian citizen from birth, be at
least 35-years or older, enjoy all civil and political rights, have good physical and mental
health and be of good morality. Candidates must also pay a surety the amount of which
is established by law. Candidates who are armed forces or security must get extended
leave to be eligible to run.
Parliamentary elections are meant to be held every 4-years to elect members of the
National Assembly. Out of the current 188-members, 163 are directly elected from multi-
seat constituencies using a proportional representation system allowing representation
for parties who reach a determined quota. The other 25-members are directly elected
from single-seat constituencies using a two-round system where a candidate requires an
absolute majority to win in the first round, otherwise a 2nd round is held between the
top-two candidates won by simple majority.
Candidates requirements for National Assembly is that they are a Chadian citizen, the
rest of the requirements are determined by electoral law. Functioning of the National
Assembly election is also determined by electoral law and so is easier to change.
Number of members is not set in constitution and so also determined by electoral law.
Currently the current National Assembly has been in place since 2011 without further
elections which has also been noted in the constitution under Article 109. It is due to
insufficient funds to run the elections due to an economic slump. Elections have since
been postponed several more times with an aim to hold elections now sometime this
year. The opposition have strongly criticized the President for this and also refuse to
recognise a new Independent Election Commission as they believe it is not impartial
enough.
To vote in elections one must be a Chadian citizen enjoying all their civil and political
rights and who is at least 18-years or older. Voting is not mandatory.
Sources
My sources come from the country’s 1996 constitution with amendments through to
2015 (on constituteproject.org), please note that the constitution was also amended in
2018 so not everything may be accurate, although I have done some research to fill
changes from here, there is also always a chance I misinterpreted some parts and that
the constitution can also be amended so cross-checking is important if used in a serious
capacity. I also got some information such as on elections, population and the
constitutional amendment process from the CIA World Factbook. Source for legislative
elections postponement here.
The country’s constitution can be amended on proposal of the Council of Ministers or
National Assembly which is then proposed by the President. A three-fifths majority is
required in the National Assembly to approve consideration for revision and a two-third
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11. vote in the National Assembly or a National Referendum won by simple majority is
required to pass a constitutional amendment.
Next up will be the government system of Chile!
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