Much like the United States, the Dominican Republic has a President and two legislative chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate has 31 representatives, one for each province in the country and one for the national district. The Chamber of Deputies has 183 members. The president is elected by universal suffrage to a four-year term. Although there are about twenty political parties only three play any significant role in the political system.
The early inhabitants of the island were the Tainos, who had a well structured society when the Europeans first discovered the island in the 15th Century. Since that time, there have been Spanish, French, and American settlements, and the population has grown to over 10 million inhabitants. To learn a bit more and see a chronological timeline of Dominican History, please press on the links below.
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic. Day trips to this vibrant city are offered from most of the major tourist areas. The Colonial Zone offers many treasures to explore including the Santa Maria Cathedral which was built in 1521, the Casas Reales Museum and the house of Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus.