The president of the Republic of Costa Rica is the head of state and head of government of Costa Rica. The president is currently elected in direct elections for a period of four years, which is not immediately renewable. Two vice presidents are elected in the same ticket with the president. The president appoints the Council of Ministers. Due to the abolition of the military of Costa Rica in 1948, the president is not a commander-in-chief, unlike the norm in most other countries, although the Constitution does describe him as commander-in-chief of the civil defense public forces. From 1969 to 2005, the president was barred from seeking reelection. After the amendment banning reelection was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2005, an incumbent president became eligible to run again after waiting for at least eight years after leaving office.

Election

The President of Costa Rica is elected using a modified [two-round system] in which a candidate must receive at least 40% of the vote to win in the first round; if no candidate wins in the first round, a runoff is held between the two candidates with the largest number of votes.

Qualifications

According to Article 131 of the Constitution, The following is required to be president or vice president of the Republic: "# To be Costa Rican by birth and a citizen in exercise;

Attributes and duties

According to article 139 of the Constitution of Costa Rica, the following powers are exclusive attributes of the president: "# To freely appoint and remove the ministers of government; Article 140 gives the president the following duties alongside the respective minister: "# To freely appoint and to remove the members of the public force, the employees and functionaries who serve offices of confidence, and the others that, in very qualified cases, the Law of [the] Civil Service determines;

Limitations

The Constitution also establishes limitations on the president's powers which can be prosecuted if broken. Article 148. "The President of the Republic will be responsible for the use he makes of those attributions that according to this Constitution correspond to him in an exclusive form. Each Minister of Government will be jointly responsible with the President[,] in respect to the exercise of the attributions that this Constitution grants to both of them. The responsibility for the acts of the Council of Government will extend to all those who concurred with their vote to adopt the respective agreement." Article 149 "The President of the Republic and the Minister of Government who had participated in the acts indicated as follows will also be jointly responsible:

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