POLITICAL SYSTEM | Taiwan political status
FACTFOCUSTheROCpresidentandvicepresidentaredirectlyelectedeveryfouryears.InTaiwan’slegislativeelections,eachvotercastsoneballotfortheirdistrictandanotherforat-largeseats.GovernmentAgencies[1]TheROCConstitution,promulgatedJan.1,1947,didnotbegintoserveitsintendedpurposeasthefoundationfordemocraticgovernanceandruleoflawuntilafter1987,whenmartiallawwasliftedinTaiwan.Sincethen,ithasundergonesevenroundsofrevisionin1991,1992,1994,1997,1999,2000and2005tomakeitmorerelevanttothecountry’scurrentconditi...
FACT FOCUS
The ROC president and vice president are directly elected every four years. In Taiwan’s legislative elections, each voter casts one ballot for their district and another for at-large seats. Government Agencies[1]The ROC Constitution, promulgated Jan. 1, 1947, did not begin to serve its intended purpose as the foundation for democratic governance and rule of law until after 1987, when martial law was lifted in Taiwan. Since then, it has undergone seven rounds of revision in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2005 to make it more relevant to the country’s current condition.
One of the important consequences of these amendments is that since 1991, the government has acknowledged that its jurisdiction extends only to the areas it controls. The president and legislators, therefore, are elected by and accountable to the people of those areas only.
In accordance with constitutional amendments promulgated in June 2005, the number of seats in th...