Liberia: A Primer

Liberia's government infrastructure is complicated because of its many recent changes. Until 1997 the political atmosphere was dominated by tribal wars under the leadership of the brutal warlord, Charles Taylor. A special election, imposed by the United Nations, the United States, and African organizations, brought Charles Taylor into power because Liberians feared that he would start a war if not elected. However, he abdicated his post (and escaped the country) shortly afterwards because rebel groups were planning a coup.[1]

Taylor was seceded by Charles Gyude Bryant, who led the National Transitional Legislative Assembly. The NTLA existed from 2003 to January 2006. It contained a 76 member legislative body headed by George Dweh (the cousin of former Liberian dictator, Samuel Doe) until Dweh was suspended for financial corruption.[2]

Since 2006 the Liberian form of government has followed the 1986 Constitution. The Constitution mimics the United States in that it has three branches - the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.[3] The executive branch has a precedent of holding the majority of the power and thus leaders like Charles Taylor and Samuel Doe who were both "President" in name both resemble dictators. The current President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, is a western-educated progressive who seems to be attempting to change the tides of corruption in Liberia.[4]

For all elections in Liberia, there is universal suffrage at age eighteen. The President is elected directly by a majority of the people every six years. There are many parties in Liberia, so the top two vote getters have a runoff election.[5] Johnson-Sirleaf only received twenty percent of the vote in the first round compared to her opponents' twenty-eight percent, but ultimately received fifty-nine percent in the general election.[6] Like the United States, the President of Liberia is both the Head of Government and the Chief of State. The President can appoint a Cabinet as long as it is approved by the Senate.[7]

The Liberian Legislature consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Liberia is broken into fifteen counties that elect two Senators each. The Senatorial candidates ran on one ticket in 2005. The highest vote getter received a nine year term and the runner up received a six year term. The sixty-four members of the House of Representatives are elected by popular election for six-year terms.[8]

The Judicial Branch consists mainly of appeals courts, criminal courts, and the Supreme Court.[9] The Supreme Court has five Justices (including one Chief Justice) appointed by the President with the confirmation of the Senate. There are also magistrate courts, traditional courts, and county courts. Trial by ordeal is practiced in county courts.[10] It is the act of making the accused go through a painful ritual and if he/she escapes without injury or with only minor injury, the court assumes innocence.[11]

Liberian counties are run by superintendents appointed by the President. Mayors are elected in major cities. Tribal law rules in smaller municipalities and "town chiefs" hold local power.[12]

The many national parties include the Congress for Democratic Change; the Liberty Party; the Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia (Liberian Action Party, the Liberia Unification Party, the People's Democratic Party of Liberia, and the True Whig Party); the Unity Party, and the Alliance for Peace and Democracy (the Liberian People's Party and the United People's Party). The high number of significant political parties makes it necessary for coalitions to form.[13] The fractured nature of the legislature also contributes to the strength of the Liberian Presidency.

[1] Anderson, Jon Lee. After the Warlords. New Yorker, 3/27/2006, Vol. 82 Issue 6, p58-65, 8p, 1bw; (AN 20265173)

[2] Politics of Liberia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 1 Nov. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Liberia.

[3] Liberia. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 1 Nov. 2006. https://www.cia.gov/cia/ publications/factbook/geos/li.html.

[4] Anderson, Jon Lee. After the Warlords. New Yorker, 3/27/2006, Vol. 82 Issue 6, p58-65, 8p, 1bw; (AN 20265173)

[5] Liberia. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 1 Nov. 2006. https://www.cia.gov/cia/ publications/factbook/geos/li.html.

[6] Elections in Liberia. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Liberia.

[7] Liberia. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 1 Nov. 2006. https://www.cia.gov/cia/ publications/factbook/geos/li.html.

[8] "Liberia." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 1 Nov. 2006 http://0-search.eb.com.clicnet4.clic.edu:80/eb/article-9110791.

[9] Politics of Liberia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 1 Nov. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Liberia.

[10] Supreme Court of Liberia. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Liberia.

[11]Trial by Ordeal. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_by_ordeal.

[12] Politics of Liberia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 1 Nov. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Liberia.

[13] List of political parties in Liberia. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Liberia.