Malta's civic institutions and governance

Malta is a parliamentary republic with a written constitution. The constitution, enacted in 1964 and revised in 1974 (when Malta became a republic), is the supreme law of Malta. All laws must be consistent with it. The constitution establishes the three branches of government: the Legislature (Parliament), the Executive (Cabinet and President), and the Judiciary.

The President of Malta is the head of state. The President is elected by the House of Representatives (Parliament) for a five-year term. The role is largely ceremonial — the President acts on the advice of the Cabinet in most matters, signs legislation into law, and represents Malta in formal state functions. The President must remain non-partisan.

Real executive power rests with the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the member of parliament who commands the majority in the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister appoints Cabinet ministers, who collectively run government ministries and are accountable to Parliament.

The House of Representatives (Il-Kamra tad-Deputati) is Malta's unicameral parliament — there is only one chamber, unlike countries with upper and lower houses. Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected using a Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.

Parliament must be dissolved and elections held at least every five years. Malta has a long tradition of two-party dominance between the Labour Party (PL — Partit Laburista) and the Nationalist Party (PN — Partit Nazzjonalista), though other parties and independents have gained seats.

Parliament makes law, approves the national budget, holds the executive (Cabinet) to account through questions and debates, and ratifies international treaties. As a TCN resident, you are not entitled to vote in national elections, but you may have voting rights in Local Council elections after fulfilling residence conditions.

Malta is divided into 68 Local Councils (Kunsilli Lokali) — 54 on the main island and 14 on Gozo. Each Local Council is responsible for local services in its area: waste collection, maintenance of local roads and public spaces, local events, and community services. Local Councillors are elected by residents.

The Local Council is the civic body most immediately relevant to daily life for most residents — it is the body you contact about waste collection schedules, local maintenance issues, or community events. Knowing your Local Council and how to reach it is a practical civic skill.

Regional committees coordinate between Local Councils and the central government. Malta is also divided into five administrative regions for statistical and governance purposes: Southern Region, Northern Region, Central Region, South Eastern Region, and Gozo.

Identità (Identity Malta Agency) is the government agency responsible for citizenship, identity documents, and the Single Permit. If you need to renew your permit, update your address, or apply for long-term residence, Identità is the body you deal with. Its portal handles many applications online.

The Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) is the public employment service. It manages job placement services, vocational training programmes, and administers employment regulations relevant to workers in Malta. As a TCN worker, the ETC may be relevant if you need support with employment transitions.

The Equal Opportunities Commissioner (Kummissarju għal Opportunitajiet Indaqs) handles complaints of discrimination on grounds including race, nationality, religion, gender, and disability. Knowing this body exists and its role is both a practical right and an assessed civic knowledge point.