Home Ivory Coast Institutions

Institutions of

the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

The Parliament

Legislative power is exercised by Parliament.

Parliament is made up of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Members of the National Assembly are elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term.

The Senate represents local authorities and Ivorians living outside Côte d’Ivoire. Two thirds of senators are elected by indirect universal suffrage. One third of senators are appointed by the President of the Republic from among Ivorians recognised for their expertise and proven competence in the political, administrative, economic, scientific, cultural, sporting, professional and social fields. Senators are appointed for a five-year term.

Parliament passes laws and approves taxes. It oversees government action and evaluates public policies. Each year, Parliament meets as of right in an ordinary session. The National Assembly and the Senate meet in Congress at the request of the President of the Republic. The President of the National Assembly chairs the Congress. He is assisted by the President of the Senate, who is the Vice-President. The sitting bureau is that of the National Assembly.

The Constitutional Council

The Constitutional Council is a constitutional court. It is independent and impartial. The Constitutional Council is the regulatory body for the functioning of the public authorities. The Constitutional Council rules on the conformity of laws with the constitution. The Constitutional Council reviews presidential and parliamentary elections.

The Constitutional Council rules on :
The eligibility of candidates for the presidential election. The Constitutional Council draws up and publishes the final list of candidates for the presidential election fifteen days before the first round of voting, after the Independent Commission in charge of elections has checked the files of the various candidates and published the provisional list of candidacies; the eligibility of candidates for parliamentary elections. The final list of candidates for the election of deputies and senators is drawn up and published by the Independent Electoral Commission; disputes relating to the election of the President of the Republic, deputies and senators; disqualification of deputies and senators.

The Constitutional Council announces the final results of the presidential election. It verifies the legality of referendum operations and announces the results.

The Court of Cassation

The Cour de Cassation is the highest court in the French legal system.

It ensures that the law is applied by the courts. It has full jurisdiction over appeals on points of law against final rulings handed down by the courts and tribunals.

The Council of State

The Conseil d’Etat is the highest court in the administrative system. It ensures that the law is applied by the administrative courts. It has the final say on decisions handed down by the administrative courts and by the administrative courts specialising in administrative litigation.

The Conseil d’Etat hears, in the first and last instance, appeals for the annulment of acts of central administrative authorities and bodies with national jurisdiction. It also acts in an advisory capacity. As such, it may be asked by the President of the Republic to give an opinion on any administrative matter.

The Cour des Comptes The Cour des Comptes is the supreme audit institution for public finances. It has jurisdictional, supervisory and advisory powers. The Court of Audit audits the management of the accounts of State departments, national public establishments, local authorities, independent administrative authorities and any body receiving financial assistance from the State or another legal entity governed by public law, as well as any body receiving financial assistance from public companies and their subsidiaries.

The Court of Auditors

The Cour des Comptes is the supreme institution for auditing public finances. It has jurisdictional, supervisory and advisory powers.

The Court of Audit audits the management of the accounts of State departments, national public establishments, local authorities, independent administrative authorities and any body receiving financial assistance from the State or another legal entity under public law.

The Mediator of the French Republic

A mediation body called “The Mediator of the French Republic”, an independent administrative authority entrusted with a public service mission, is instituted. The Mediator of the French Republic does not receive instructions from any authority.

The Mediator of the French Republic acts as an impartial mediator between the administration and citizens.

The National Chamber of Traditional Kings and Chiefs

The National Chamber of Traditional Kings and Chiefs
Traditional chieftaincy is represented by the National Chamber of Traditional Kings and Chiefs. The National Chamber of Traditional Kings and Chiefs is the institution that brings together all the traditional kings and chiefs of Côte d’Ivoire.

In particular, it is responsible for :

The traditional chieftaincy participates in the administration of the territory under the conditions laid down by law.

The High Court of Justice

The High Court of Justice The High Court of Justice is a court of exception. It judges the President of the Republic, the Vice-President of the Republic and members of the Government. The High Court of Justice is made up of members elected in equal numbers by the National Assembly and the Senate during the first session of the legislature. It is presided over by the President of the Cour de Cassation.

The Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council

The Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council gives its opinion on draft laws, ordinances, decrees and proposed laws submitted to it.
Draft economic, social, environmental and cultural programme bills are submitted to it for an opinion.

The President of the Republic may consult the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council on any problem of an economic, social, environmental or cultural nature.