Info
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
a . Head of State is the Head of Government c . Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments: The President shall be the Head of State, the Head of Government, and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The President shall be elected directly by the people by universal and secret suffrage. The President shall be elected by over fifty percent of the votes. If no candidate obtains such majority, a run-off election must be held within twenty one days after the first election. The run-off election shall be contested only by the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the first election.
Source: Constitution 2008, art. 106, 108, 111: http://www.majlis.gov.mv/en/wp-content/uploads/Constitution-english.pdf (2018)
Verified: 2019/02/11
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
b . Directly elected in general elections, absolute majority (with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments: The president is both the head of state and the head of government. S/he is elected directly by the people by universal and secret suffrage, by absolute majority of votes. If no candidate obtains such majority, a run-off election must be held within twenty one days after the first election. The run-off election shall be contested only by the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the first election
Source: Constitution 2008, art. 106, 108, 111: http://www.majlis.gov.mv/en/wp-content/uploads/Constitution-english.pdf (2018)
Verified: 2019/02/11
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: 109. A person elected as President shall have the following qualifications:
(a)be a Maldivian citizen born to parents who are Maldivian citizens, and who is not also a citizen of a foreign country;
(b)be a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam;
(c)be at least thirty-five years of age;
(d)be of sound mind;
(e)not have an undischarged decreed debt;
(f)not have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of more than twelve months, unless a period of three years has elapsed since his release, or pardon for the offence for which he was sentenced; and
(g)despite the provisions of article (f), not have been convicted of an offence for which a hadd is prescribed in Islam or of fraud, deception or criminal breach of trust.
Source: Constitution 2008, art. 106 - 128: http://www.majlis.gov.mv/en/wp-content/uploads/Constitution-english.pdf (2018)
Verified: 2019/02/11
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
a . One chamber
Comments: The legislative authority of the Maldives shall be vested in the People’s Majlis.
Source: Constitution 2008, art. 70 (a): http://www.majlis.gov.mv/en/wp-content/uploads/Constitution-english.pdf (2018)
Verified: 2019/02/11
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
a . Plurality (FPTP)
Comments: Each administrative division shall establish separate electoral constituencies and all members are elected from a separate electoral constituency. The person elected from amongst those standing for election in each separate electoral constituency shall be the person receiving the greatest number of votes by secret ballot.
Source: Constitution 2008, art. 72 (b): http://www.majlis.gov.mv/en/wp-content/uploads/Constitution-english.pdf (2018)
Verified: 2019/02/11
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