The Argentine Constitution, provides for a tripartite system of government consisting of an executive branch headed by a President, a legislative branch and an independent judiciary. The Constitution expressly provides for the right to private property. Federal laws govern international and inter-provincial trade, immigration and citizenship, patents and trademarks.
Provincial laws govern civil, commercial, criminal, mineral, labor and social security matters.
Said Codes are enforceable nationwide although they are not federal laws and therefore provincial courts have jurisdiction on cases involving the interpretation of said Codes. The executive branch has been the dominant branch at the federal level. We recommend therefore that any company investing in Argentina be well represented in the executive branch. It is noteworthy that a constitutional limit will force President Menem whose policies have been extremely favorable to foreign investment to step down in December of 1999. The Argentine Constitution guarantees non-Argentine citizens the same rights as Argentine citizens, including access to Argentine courts for the resolution of legal disputes.