Political Institutions, Constitutional Order, and Government
Institutions
Cyprus is a presidential republic. The President is both head of state and head of government, elected directly for a five-year term, and appoints the Council of Ministers. The House of Representatives is the legislature; members are elected for five years. The judiciary is independent, and the constitutional order includes safeguards and independent offices. Local government operates through municipalities and communities. Since 2004, EU membership has added a layer: Cypriot law must be read alongside EU law, and EU citizens have rights in local and European elections.
Constitutional logic and traps
The 1960 Constitution was designed as a bi-communal arrangement with detailed power-sharing. After the breakdown of constitutional functioning in the 1960s, the Republic continued with the Greek Cypriot institutions; candidates should understand that the present system is not a simple copy of the 1960 text in operation, nor is it a parliamentary republic. Common traps: calling the President a ceremonial figure; saying the President is chosen by the House; confusing Cyprus with Greece’s parliamentary system; treating the House as an upper chamber; and assuming local government is central government.
Worked example: If a question asks who appoints ministers, the answer follows from the presidential system: the President does, not the House. If it asks who votes laws, the House does.
Rule of thumb: for any institution question, identify three things - office-holder, selector, and term - before choosing.