Political System of Indonesia

Indonesia is a republic with political power organized around the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. Indonesia declared independence from the Netherlands and Japan on August 17, 1945.

Basic Philosophy

Pancasila, the Five Principles, is the basic philosophy of the government. These principles are: Belief in one God, Just and civilized humanity, the Unity of Indonesia, Democracy led by the wisdom of deliberations among representatives, and Social Justice for all Indonesian citizens.

Executive Branch

The President is the chief of state and head of Government. The President is also the supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The current President of Indonesia is Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his Vice President is Jusuf Kalla. Their election was the first-ever direct election for President in Indonesia's history, where voters were actually able to choose a person and not a party (Indonesian Elections, 20 September 2004). President and Vice President were elected for five-year terms (eligible for a second term).

Legistative Branch

House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) has 550 seats, with members elected to serve five-year terms, and House of Regional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD), constitutionally mandated role includes providing legislative input to DPR on issues affecting regions. Indonesia also has the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) has role in inaugurating and impeaching president and in amending constitution; consists of popularly elected members in DPR and DPD; MPR does not formulate national policy.

Judical Branch

Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (justices appointed by the President from a list of candidates selected by the legislature). A separate Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi was invested by the president on 16 August 2003. In March 2004 the Supreme Court assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the lower court system from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; Labor Court under supervision of Supreme Court began functioning in January 2006.

The Legal System

The legal system is based on Roman-Dutch law. This has been substantially enhanced and modified over the years to cater to indigenous concepts and new criminal procedures code being enacted every year.

Electoral Committee

The General Election Committee (KPU - Komisi Pemilihan Umum) is the body responsible for running both parliamentary and presidential elections in Indonesia. Prior to the General Election of 2004, the KPU was made up of members who were also members of political parties, however members of the KPU must now be non-partisan.

Administrative divisions of Indonesia

The Republic of Indonesia is divided into provinces (Indonesian: Provinsi). Provinces consist of regencies (Indonesian: Kabupaten) and cities (Indonesian: Kota). Province, regencies, and cities, have their own local governments and parliamentary bodies.
Since the enactment of Law Number 22 Year 1999 regarding Local Government (the law was revised by Law Number 32 Year 2004), the local governments enjoy greater role to administer their own area - however foreign politics, defense (including armed forces and national police), system of law, and monetary policy, are still being national government domain. Since 2005, heads of local government (governors, regents, and mayors) has been directly elected by the popular election.

Province

Province (Indonesian: Provinsi) is headed by a governor. Each province has its own legislative body, called Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah (literally means "Regional People's Representatives Assembly"). Governor and member of representatives are elected by popular vote for 5 years term.

Currently Indonesia is divided into 33 provinces. Seven provinces were created since 2000. Among 33 provinces of Indonesia, 5 of them have special status:

1. Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (formerly: Aceh Special Region), has greater role in local government, such as has its own Islamic syari'ah law (only for Muslim citizen), flag and song of province, local political parties are allowed, and any decision or law made by central government which directly affect Aceh's administration need to be consulted with the local government or legislative body.
2. Yogyakarta Special Region, The Sultan of Yogyakarta is de facto governor of Yogyakarta since he is given priority when electing the governor. For centuries, Sultanate of Yogyakarta has reigned in the region. However recently, the central government propose a law that required the governor to be popularly elected, same as other provinces, while still giving the sultan a major powers. The proposal is still under debate as there are many rejection from the people of Yogyakarta including the local legislative body and the sultan himself.
3. Papua (formerly: Irian Jaya), since 2001 has greater role of local government, including allowed to own flag and song of province, and the governor is required to be Papuan origins.
4. West Papua (formerly: Irian Jaya Barat), has an equal status with Papua.
5. Jakarta Special Capital Region, is the capital city of Indonesia, and place of all national government bodies. The Governor of Jakarta has the power to appoint and dismiss the mayors and regent within Jakarta Special Capital Region. And the local government is allowed to have cooperation with other cities from other countries. Each province is divided into regencies and cities.

Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten) and City (Indonesian: Kota) are a local level of government smaller than a province, however they enjoy greater decentralization affairs than province does, such as provide public schools and public health facilities.
Both regency and city are the same level, having their own local government and legislative body. The difference between Regency and City lies in differing demographics, size and economics. Generally the regency has larger area than city, and city has a non-agricultural economic activities. Regency is headed by a regent (Indonesian: Bupati), and the city is headed by a mayor (Indonesian: Walikota). Regent or mayor and member of representatives are elected by popular vote for 5 years term.
Each regency or city is divided into sub-district.

Sub-district (Indonesian: Kecamatan) is area within regency or city. Head of sub-district is called "Camat"'. Camat is a civil servant, responsible to the regent (for regency) or to the mayor (for city).
In Papua Province and West Papua, sub-district is called District (Indonesian: Distrik), and is headed by a "Head of District" (Indonesian: Kepala Distrik).
Each sub-district is divided into Desa or Kelurahan.

The next level is that of the Desa or Kelurahan. Both Desa and Kelurahan are the area within sub-district, however Desa enjoys greater local matters than Kelurahan does.

Desa

In Indonesian, as in English, village (desa) has rural connotations, in the context of Indonesian Government Administration, a Desa can be defined as a body which has authority over the local people in accordance with acknowledged local traditions of the area. Desa is headed by "Head of Desa" (Indonesian: Kepala Desa), and elected by popular vote.
The term of "desa" varies between region. In West Sumatra, desa is called "nagari", in Papua is called "kampung", and in Aceh is called "gampong".

Though Desa and Kelurahan are part of sub-district, Kelurahan has limited power than Desa. Kelurahan is headed by a "Lurah". Lurah is a civil servant, and directly responsible to Camat. Kelurahan is part of Regency/City government bureaucracy.

Here is table showing number of current provinces, regencies, and cities of Indonesia.