The politics of Rwanda takes place in a frame work of a presidential republic and the country has a presidential system of government. It is a multiparty democracy under the steady hand of the Rwandan patriotic Front (RPF). And currently the head of state of government is President Paul Kagame who took office in 2000 upon the resignation of his predecessor, Pasteur Bizimungu, and his prime minister is Pierre Habumuremyi, he is appointed by the president plus also all other members of Cabinet. The president has extensive powers including creating policy in conjunction with the Cabinet, signing presidential orders, put into effect the prerogative of mercy, negotiating and passing treaties, commanding the armed forces, and declaring war or a state of crisis. Rwanda is ruled under the constitution of 2003 and the president, is eligible for seven-year term and is qualified for a second term if voted back in office.
The country has been governed by a strict administrative hierarchy since pre-colonial times; there are five provinces, which are described by borders drawn in 2006. The governing body has 26 members, 12 elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, and the rest on behalf of political and educational groups; all serve eight-year terms in office. The board room of Deputies has 80 seats; 53 of the members are popularly elected on a proportional basis, and the rest are nominated from women, youth, and other groups. Deputies serve five-year terms. Administratively, the country is divided into five provinces.
The Parliament is made up of two chambers. It makes legislation and is empowered by the constitution to oversee the activities of the President and the Cabinet. The subordinate chamber consists of Deputies, which has 80 members and each serving five-year terms. And 24 of these seats are taken up women, they are elected through a joint assembly of local government officials; another three seats are reserved for youth and disabled members; while the remaining 53 seats are elected by universal suffrage under a comparative representation system.
Rwanda’s lawful system is mainly based on Belgian and German civil law systems and customary law. And here the judiciary is autonomous of the executive branch, even though the President and the Senate are involved in the appointment of Supreme Court judges. Human Rights watch have honored the Rwandan government for the advancement they have made in the delivery of justice including the elimination of the death penalty, but also allege interference in the judicial system by members of the government, such as the politically motivated appointment of judges, misuse of prosecutorial power, and pressure on judges to make particular decisions. Rwanda has low corruption compared with neighboring countries, in 2010, Transparency International ranked Rwanda as the 8th cleanest out of 47 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and 66th cleanest out of 178 in the world.