Term length Four years term | Formation 7 november 1949 | |
 | ||
Inaugural holder | ||
The 1949 Constitution of Costa Rica established two Vice-Presidencies of Costa Rica, which are directly elected through a popular vote on a ticket with the president for a period of four years, with no immediate re-election. There has been various incarnations of the office. Vice presidents replace the president in cases of temporary or permanent absence.
Contents
- Map of Costa Rica
- Vice Presidents of the Governing Committees of Costa Rica 182124
- Vice Heads of State of Costa Rica 182441
- Second Heads of State 184142
- Vice Heads of State 184244 184647
- Vice Presidents of State 18471848
- Vice Presidents of the Republic of Costa Rica 184859
- Designates to the Presidency 185981
- Designates to the Presidency 188182
- Designates to the Presidency 18821948
- Vice Presidents of Costa Rica since 1949
- References
Map of Costa Rica
Throughout the history of independent Costa Rica, there have been different systems to cover the temporary or permanent absence of a president. Several different names have been used for this position:
The following tables contain a list of the officials elected to the vice-presidential position since 1821.
Vice Presidents of the Governing Committees of Costa Rica (1821–24)
Between 1821 and 1824 Costa Rica was governed through a system of Governing Committees who chose from among their members a president and a vice-president.
Vice-Heads-of-State of Costa Rica (1824–41)
Between 1824 and 1841, in accordance with the Basic Law of 21 January 1825 and 1844, a Vice-Head-of-State was elected by the people.
Second Heads of State (1841–42)
In line with the Decree of Rules and Guarantees of 1841, a popularly elected Second-Head-of-State was created to replace the Head of State in case of temporary or permanent absence.
Vice-Heads-of-State (1842–44; 1846–47)
From 1842 to 1844 and from 1846 to 1847 the country returned to the system of Vice-Heads-of-State.
Vice-Presidents of State (1847–1848)
From 1847 to 1848 Costa Rica had a Vice-President of State, who was popularly elected.
Vice-Presidents of the Republic of Costa Rica (1848–59)
From 1848 to 1849 the popularly elected Costa Rican Vice-President of the Republic presided over the Legislature.
Designates to the Presidency 1859–81
In the Costa Rican constitutions of 1859, 1869 and 1871, the role of popularly elected vice-president was replaced by two Designates to the Presidency, elected annually by the Legislature.
Designates to the Presidency 1881–82
In 1881 President Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez replaced the system of two Designates to the Presidency with one of seven Designates. This situation lasted until the constitutional government assumed power in 1882
Designates to the Presidency 1882–1948
In 1882, with the restoration of the 1871 Constitution, Costa Rica returned to the system of Designates to the Presidency, but with three designates, elected by the Legislature for same four-year period as the President of the Republic.
Vice Presidents of Costa Rica (since 1949)
In accordance with the Costa Rican constitution of 7 November 1949 there are two vice presidents, popularly elected at the same time as the president.