Legislative and Institutional Structure
Affecting Biological Resources

“Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism,” the local term for the legacy of the New Order, still influence government decisions, legislation development, and law enforcement at all levels. This tension between prospective reform and the deeply entrenched legacy of the New Order has engendered instability, uncertainty and conflict throughout the country that continue to persist five years into the reform era. These factors have had strong negative impacts on Indonesia’s biodiversity and forest conservation efforts. Facilitating meaningful governance reform will be critical to ensuring the conservation and management of biodiversity and forest resources.

Government of Indonesia

Indonesia is a republic that consists of three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The President is both the chief of state and head of the government. The president currently presides over 32 cabinet members, who manage the executive branch ministries and departments. It is the president’s prerogative to determine the number and responsibilities of Ministries.

The People’s Consultative Assembly or Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat (MPR) is the country’s highest legislative body. It consists of the House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) plus 195 indirectly selected members. The MPR elects the president and vice-president every five years and approves the broad outlines of national policy, while also meeting annually to consider constitutional and legislative changes. The DPR consists of the 500-seat unicameral House of Representatives. The judiciary is led by the Supreme Court, which is preparing to assume administrative responsibility for the lower court system currently run by the executive. The President appoints Supreme Court justices. Indonesia consists of 30 provinces and 357 districts (kabupaten), which since the enactment of decentralization in 1999 have substantially more authority to govern local affairs.
The recent third amendment to Indonesia’s constitution (9 November 2001) revised the electoral process and the structure of the legislative branch. Formerly, the president and vice president were chosen by vote of the MPR.