The Republic of Ecuador is a presidential democracy with a federal character since 1979. the state consists of 22 provinces, which are subdivided into cantons ie. municipals and parishes.

Head of the executive is the state president which is directly elected by the people for four years. He is also head of government and head of the armed forces. Since 22nd January 2000 the lawyer and former vice-president of Dr.Gustavo Noboa holds this position.
He was appointed as the new President of State by the military and confirmed by the congress after his predecessor, the in 1998 democratically elected Jamil Mahaud, was removed from office by a putsch as a consequences of general strikes, road blocks and an economic emergency programme.

121 M.P. constitute the parliament and are, similarly to the president, also appointed for a four year period. In Ecuador no 'barring clauses' exist for parties (like the minimum of 5 percent in Germany) in an election. Therefore even small splinter groups and tiny parties have the chance of obtaining a seat in parliament.
The most influential parties are the Democracia Popular (Christian democrsts), the Partido Social Cristiano and the Izquierda Democratica (social democrats.