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What responsibilities does Panama’s National Assembly have?

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Panama operates under a representative system of government with a unicameral National Assembly consisting of 71 members who serve five-year terms.12

The National Assembly holds several key legislative and administrative responsibilities, including:

  • Initiating legislation1
  • Ruling on international treaties1
  • Approving the national budget1
  • Establishing political divisions1

These functions are central to the country's constitutional framework, which balances power between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.1