The president is elected to a 5-year term by direct universal suffrage and a secret ballot, and may hold up to two consecutive terms. Candidates are chosen at their party’s national conference or individuals may run independently. A presidential candidate must obtain an outright majority in either a first or second round of voting in order to be elected president.

The Prime Minister is appointed by the President but must be ratified by the majority party and thus nominally comes from a list of its choosing. The Prime Minister, in turn, names the members of the cabinet.

The National Assembly is the supreme organ of the state and the highest legislative body. Its 55 members are elected for 4-year terms in twelve multi-member constituencies by proportional representation. Dr. Dionísio Tomé Dias is the current president of the National Assembly.

Justice is administered at the highest level by the Supreme Court. Formerly responsible to the National Assembly, the judiciary is independent under the new constitution.

At the local level, São Tomé & Príncipe is divided into seven districts (Six on the island of São Tomé -- Água Grande, Cantagalo, Caué, Lembá, Lobata, and Mé-Zóchi; One Pagué, comprising the island of Príncipe). Governing councils in each district maintain a limited number of autonomous decision making powers.

Príncipe was granted autonomy in April 1995. Along with representation in the National Government, the island has its own seven member Regional Assembly and five member Regional government.