Costa Rica

Legislative Assembly

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government: Yes

Sources: Constitution, art. 121(24)
Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials: Yes

Sources: Constitution, art. 121(24)
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments: No
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments: Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year: 25,002

(2023)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year: 5,137

(2023)

Notes: Data represents the total number of queries made per year and answers received, but data is not collected on the number of those queries that were directed to Executive Power and the number of responses received from Executive power.
Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year: 20.5%

(2023)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries: Yes

Sources: Constitution of the Republic of Costa Rica, art. 121(23)
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year: 22

(2023)

Notes: Totals refer to investigative commissions.

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government: Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Constitution, art. 120(8)
The Head of Government is also the Head of State: Yes
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State: Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Constitution, art. 138

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: No

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: The Head of State

Individual members of the Executive

Sources: Constitution, art. 121 (9)(10) and 151

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Individual members of the Executive

Sources: Constitution, art. 121(24)

Updated at	Number of written questions asked, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	25,002
2022-01	22,771
2021-01	17,394
2020-01	20,575
2019-01	23,313
2018-01	11,414
2017-01	13,930
2016-01	10,546
2015-01	10,162
2014-01	5,003

Updated at	Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	5,137
2022-01	No information available
2021-01	5,000
2020-01	8,069
2019-01	5,740
2018-01	3,182
2017-01	3,228
2016-01	2,712
2015-01	2,613
2014-01	2,411

Updated at	Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	20.5%
2022-01	No information available
2021-01	28.7%
2020-01	39.2%
2019-01	24.6%
2018-01	27.9%
2017-01	23.2%
2016-01	25.7%
2015-01	25.7%
2014-01	48.2%

Updated at	Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	22
2022-01	16
2021-01	14
2020-01	10
2019-01	5
2018-01	7
2017-01	17
2016-01	13
2015-01	13
2014-01	13
2013-01	2