Assuming the role of El Presidente, players can change their personal characteristics, which will affect their population's bonuses and deductions. Players can be charismatic and flatulent, and a Harvard University graduate - one of hundred possibilities. These choices affects the way people treat El Presidente and help determine the game's difficulty. The political system is the most unique area in Tropico's gameplay. El Presidente must combat rebels while keeping people happy.
Players can eliminate people to maintain the regime, or lose in elections.
Relations with the United States or Russia can be established, along with other edicts to keep people happy. Hundreds of possibilities can happy, and players are faced with it on a personal level. Yet, these innovations contribute to a steep learning curve in Tropico. Players will find that building their own city might be harder than they expected for various reasons. Trying to grasp the new systems of markets, tourism, and politics is extremely difficult and many restarts will precede.