Elections in Botswana
Encyclopedia
Elections in Botswana have been held regularly since independence, and have been consistently judged free and fair by international observers.
Botswana elects on national level a legislature
. The president is elected for a five year term by the parliament. Parliament
has two chambers
. The National Assembly
has 57 members elected for a five year term in single seat constituencies
through first-past-the-post
voting. The House of Chiefs/Ntlo Ya Dikgosi
consists of the chiefs/Dikgosi's of the eight principal tribes, four elected sub chiefs and three members selected by the other twelve members.
Botswana has held ten democratic elections since its independence in 1966, more than any other nation in mainland sub-Saharan Africa. It has retained its democracy since its independence. Though Botswana is usually considered to be a democratic country, it is also considered a one party dominant state with the Botswana Democratic Party
in power since independence. Opposition
parties
freely contest elections, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining enough support to achieve power.
Botswana elects on national level a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The president is elected for a five year term by the parliament. Parliament
Parliament of Botswana
The Parliament of Botswana consists of the President and the National Assembly. In contrast to other Parliamentary systems, the Parliament elects the President directly for a set five year term of office. There are no term limits...
has two chambers
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
. The National Assembly
National Assembly of Botswana
The National Assembly of Botswana is the legislature of the country's unicameral Parliament. It is advised by the House of Chiefs, which is not a house of Parliament....
has 57 members elected for a five year term in single seat constituencies
Parliamentary constituencies of Botswana
Botswana is divided into fifty-seven parliamentary constituencies. The constituencies were last updated in 2002.-List of constituencies:-External links:* *...
through first-past-the-post
First-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
voting. The House of Chiefs/Ntlo Ya Dikgosi
House of Chiefs of Botswana
The House of Chiefs of Botswana is an advisory body of the country's Parliament.-Composition:The House of Chiefs consists of 35 members. Eight members are hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes...
consists of the chiefs/Dikgosi's of the eight principal tribes, four elected sub chiefs and three members selected by the other twelve members.
Botswana has held ten democratic elections since its independence in 1966, more than any other nation in mainland sub-Saharan Africa. It has retained its democracy since its independence. Though Botswana is usually considered to be a democratic country, it is also considered a one party dominant state with the Botswana Democratic Party
Botswana Democratic Party
The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing conservative party in Botswana. Its chairman is Daniel Kwelagobe.BDP was shaped by Sir Seretse Khama, who is celebrated for nurturing the economic and political success of Botswana. The party's base is in the traditional Setswana communities, and it...
in power since independence. Opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
freely contest elections, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining enough support to achieve power.