The Chief Executive

The Chief Executive is the head of the MSAR and is accountable to the Central People's Government and the MSAR.

The Chief Executive shall be a Chinese citizen of not less than 40 years of age who is a permanent resident of Macao and has ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than 20 years. The Chief Executive is selected by election or through consultations held locally and is appointed by the Central People's Government. The term of office of the Chief Executive is five years and may serve for not more than two consecutive terms.

The Chief Executive is responsible for leading the Government of the MSAR; implementing the Basic Law and other laws which apply in the MSAR; signing bills passed by the Legislative Assembly and promulgating laws; signing budgets passed by the Legislative Assembly and report the budgets and final accounts to the Central People’s Government for the record; deciding on government policies and issuing executive orders; formulating the administrative regulations and promulgating them for implementation; nominating and reporting to the Central People’s Government for appointment of the Secretaries, Commissioner Against Corruption, the Commissioner of Audit, the leading members of the Police and the Customs and Excise department, and recommending to the Central People’s Government the removal of the above-mentioned officials; appointing part of the members of the Legislative Assembly; appointing or removing members of the Executive Council; nominating and reporting to the Central People’s Government for appointment of the Procurator-General and recommending to the Central People’s Government the removal of the Procurator-General; appointing or removing presidents and judges of the courts at all levels, procurators, holders of public office and, under certain circumstances, dissolving the Legislative Assembly.

The Executive Council

The Executive Council of the MSAR is an organ for assisting the Chief Executive in policy-making. The Executive Council is presided over by the Chief Executive and the meeting of the Executive Council should be held at least once a month. Its members are appointed by the Chief Executive from among the principal officials of the executive authorities, members of the Legislative Assembly and public figures. The Executive Council is composed of seven to eleven persons. The Chief Executive may, as he or she deems necessary, invite other persons concerned to sit in on meetings of the Executive Council. The Executive Council consists of seven to eleven members.

The Legislature

According to the Basic Law, the MSAR enjoys legislative autonomy and the Legislative Assembly is its sole legislature.

The majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly of the MSAR, which is composed of permanent residents of Macao, are elected. The term of office of the Legislative Assembly, except for the first term, is four years.

The first Legislative Assembly of the MSAR had 23 members, eight of whom were elected directly, eight indirectly and seven appointed by the Chief Executive. The second Legislative Assembly had 27 members, 10 of whom were elected directly, 10 indirectly and seven appointed by the Chief Executive. The third Legislative Assembly had 29 members, 12 of whom were elected directly, 10 indirectly and seven appointed by the Chief Executive. The fourth Legislative Assembly also has the same numbers of members as the third Legislative Assembly. The fifth and the succeeding Legislative Assembly will have 33 members, 14 of whom are elected directly, 12 indirectly and seven appointed by the Chief Executive. However, the aforementioned does not apply to the amendments made through legal procedures to the method for forming the Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The Legislative Assembly has a President and a Vice President who are elected by and from among the members of the Legislative Council. The President and Vice President of the Legislative Assembly are Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of Macao and have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than 15 years.

The Legislative Assembly has powers to enact, amend, suspend or repeal laws; to examine and approve budgets introduced by the Government; and to examine the report on audit introduced by the Government.

The Legislative Assembly exercises the powers and functions of deciding on Government motions on taxation and approving debts to be undertaken by the Government, receiving and debating the policy addresses of the Chief Executive and debating any issue concerning the public interests.

Under certain circumstances, the Legislative Assembly may pass a motion to impeach the Chief Executive by a two-thirds majority of all its members and report it to the Central People’s Government for decision.