The Dominican Republic is an electoral democracy with universal and compulsory suffrage, in which the legal system is based on French Civil Codes. The President is both the Head of State and the Head of the Government. The President and Vice-President are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four year terms. The first Constitution was written in 1844 following the nation’s independence from Haiti. Subsequently, there have been 39 constitutions, the most recent of which was passed in 2015.
The Constitution of Dominican Republic is “the supreme norm and foundation of the juridical order of the State. Any law, decree, resolution, regulation or act that is contrary to this Constitution is null of plain right” (article 6). Within the Constitution, articles 184 and 185 provide for the establishment of a Constitutional Court to guarantee the supremacy of the Constitution, the defense of the constitutional order and the protection of fundamental rights, as well as its powers. The Constitutional Court’s decisions are deemed definitive and irrevocable and constitute binding precedents for the public powers and all the organs of the State. Article 185 of the Dominican Republic’s Constitution establishes that: “The Constitutional Court shall be responsible for knowing in sole instance: 1. Direct actions of unconstitutionality against the laws, decrees, rules, resolutions and ordinances at the instance of the President of the Republic, of one third of the members of the Senate or of the Chamber of Deputies and any person with legitimate and juridically protected interest. 2. The preventative control of international treaties before their ratification by the legislative organ. 3. Conflicts of responsibility between the public powers at the instance of one of their heads. 4. Any other matter that the law provides”.
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Dominican Republic
Political Groups
G77, SIDS, AOSIS
World Bank Income Group
Upper middle income
Global Climate Risk Index
58.5
The annually published Global Climate Risk Index analyses to what extent countries have been affected by the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heat waves etc.).
Published by German Watch https://www.germanwatch.org/en/criShare of Global Emissions
0.06%
Legislation
9
Laws, Acts, Constitutions (legislative branch)
Policies
9
Policies, strategies, decrees, action plans (from executive branch)
Litigation
Coming soon
Court cases and tribunal proceedings
Targets
6
Climate targets in National Law & Policy
Latest Documents
, 2020
Dominican Republic First NDC (Updated submission), Nationally Determined Contribution from Dominican Republic in 2020
, 2020
This law aims to include environmental education into all levels of the country's schooling and academic system. Its stated goals are 1) build skills by creating skills and values that lead to sustainable development, based on equity, social justice and respect for biological diversity; 2) Promote the implementation of policies and measures for adaptation to climate...
, 2020
Dominican Republic. Biennial update report (BUR). BUR 1., Biennial Update Report from Dominican Republic in 2020
, 2018
The ccGAP is an intersectional document aiming at advancing women empowerment and enabling gender equality while setting climate change response plans. It focuses in priority on Infrastructure, Energy and transport; waste; forests; water; sustainable agriculture and food security; Health; coastal zones; Disaster risk reduction, preparedness and resilience; and Tourism.
, 2017
Dominican Republic. National Communication (NC). NC 3., National Communication from Dominican Republic in 2017
Targets (6)
Request to download all target data (.csv)- Reach 3.4 metric tonnes per capita of CO2 by 2015, 3.2 metric tonnes by 2020, 3 metric tonnes by 2025 and 2.8 metric tonnes by 2030Economy-wide: Economy Wide | Target year: 2030Source: Law 1-12: National Development Strategy 2030
- 25% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 compared to 2010Economy-wide: Economy Wide | Target year: 2030
- Raise effective use of distributed water in irrigation to 45% of distributed volume by 2030Water: Water Management | Target year: 2030Source: Law 1-12: National Development Strategy 2030
- Deforestation rates per year are reversed to -0.2% (recovery) by 2030 against a 2005 baselineLULUCF: Afforestation | Target year: 2030Source: Law 1-12: National Development Strategy 2030
- 10% of electricity produced from renewable sources by 2015, and 25% of electricity produced from renewable sources by 2025Energy: Renewable Energy | Target year: 2025Source: Law 57-07 on Renewable Energy (supported by the 2008 Renewable Energy Regulating Decree No. 202-08)
Legislative Process
The National Congress is bicameral, with a 32-seat Senate and a 183-seat Chamber of Deputies, the members of which are elected by popular vote for 4-year terms without term-limits. Elections for President, Vice-President and the National Congress were held in 2020.
There are two legislative sessions per-year that each last 90 days, the first of which begins on August 16 and the second on February 27. Members of both houses of Congress and the President of the Republic have the authority to introduce legislation, while the Supreme Court of Justice may introduce legislation on judicial matters and the Central Electoral Board may introduce legislation on electoral matters. Constitutional reforms passed in 2010 authorise the introduction of a popular legislative initiative if supported by at least 2% of citizens registered to vote. For organic laws to be approved by Congress, it requires two-thirds vote of those present in both chambers. Legislation approved by Congress is sent to the President for promulgation, following which it is published in the Official Gazette.