Gabon is a republic with a presidential form of government. The current constitution was adopted in 1961 (amended in 1975, 1991 and 2003). The head of state is the president of the Republic , elected by the population for a 7-year term. The 2003 constitutional amendment lifted the limit on the number of presidential terms. The president appoints and dismisses the prime minister, cabinet and judges of the independent Supreme Court. The President has the right to dissolve the National Assembly, delay the entry into force of laws and call referenda.
Legislative power belongs to the bicameral parliament, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate . 120 deputies of the National Assembly are elected by universal suffrage for a term of 5 years. The Senate consists of 102 members elected by the municipal councils and regional assemblies for a term of 6 years. The Senate was created in 1990-1991 after amendments to the constitution, began to function after the 1997 elections. The President of the Senate replaces the President in case it is impossible for the latter to fulfill his duties.
In 1990, the political system of Gabon underwent significant changes. The draft constitutional amendments, created in 1990 as a result of a national political conference held in March-April, led to the emergence of a bill of rights and the creation of a National Democratic Council, designed to monitor the observance of civil rights and the independence of the judiciary. The new constitution of 1991 allowed for multi-party legislative elections, although opposition parties were not formally legalized. For the first time, opposition deputies entered the National Assembly.
In October 2009, the newly elected president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, began reforms aimed at simplifying the governance of the country. He liquidated 17 ministerial posts, abolished the position of vice president, reorganized the remaining ministries and administrative bodies. The reforms aimed to reduce corruption and reduce the bloated state apparatus. However, in August 2015, the post of vice president was reinstated.