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The Tiers of Government in Cameroon

Cameroon is a unitary presidential republic wherein the president of the republic is both head of state and head of government. There are three tiers of government in Cameroon, these are: the Executive, legislative, and Judiciary. The government and the parliament both share executive power.
Cameroon has a strong central government dominated by the Executive. The government of Cameroon has over 30 ministries, each of which is headed by a political and presidential appointee entitled ‘minister’ or ‘minister of state’ (a more senior level) (Government Ministries, 2015). The president of the republic has the sole right to appoint and dismiss cabinet members, regional governors, Divisional and Senior Divisional Officers, heads of parastatals, army generals, etc., irrespective of parliamentary representation.
In 2008, Cameroon’s parliament adopted a constitutional bill removing a two-term limit to allow President Paul Biya to extend his 25-year rule over Central Africa’s biggest economy past 2011 (Cameroon parliament extends Biya's term limit, 2008). Generally, the president is not required to consult the National Assembly when taking major decisions. The president has the power to obligate or disburse expenditures, approve or veto regulations, appropriate and expend profits of parastatal firms, and also to declare states of emergency.
The president, the minister of Justice, and the Supreme Court top the judicial hierarchy. The executive still dictates over the judiciary, through the Ministry of Justice. Laws are reviewed by the Supreme Court only on presidential request.
Cameroon practises a bicameral system of legislature consisting of an upper house/senate of 100 seats and a National Assembly of 180 seats. 70 of the senate seats are indirectly elected by municipal councils, and 30 are appointed by the head of state. Members of parliament are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms.

References

Cameroon parliament extends Biya's term limit. (2008, April 11). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from France 24: http://www.france24.com/en/20080411-cameroon-parliament-paul-biya-term-limit-extension
Government Ministries. (2015). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from Nexus Commonwealth Network: http://www.commonwealthofnations.org/sectors-cameroon/government/government_ministries/


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