Indonesia is a unitary state with a broad principle of regional autonomy. A unitary state is a form of sovereign state held as a single entity. The unitary state places the central government as the highest authority while the administrative regions under it only exercise power chosen by the central government to be delegated. The administrative area within the country of Indonesia is currently divided into 34 provinces.

The form of government of Indonesia is a constitutional republic, while the system of government of Indonesia is a presidential system. The form of republican government is a government whose mandate of power comes from the people, through a general voting mechanism and usually led by a president.

Presidential system is a state system led by the president. The President is head of state and head of government. The president and vice president are elected directly by the people through general elections. The President in running the government is assisted by ministers. The President has the right to appoint and dismiss ministers. Ministers or commonly referred to as the cabinet are responsible for the president. The president in running his government is overseen by the parliament.

Parliament in Indonesia consists of two parts, namely, the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD). Members of the DPR and DPD are elected directly by the people through general elections. General elections to elect members of the DPR are general elections held by a general election commission with the mechanism of contestation in the form of multi-party elections. Elections to elect DPD members are also held by electoral commissions with the mechanism of contestation coming from individual candidates with certain support conditions representing the 1st or provincial level administrative regions.

Members of the DPR and DPD are members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) who convene at least once in 5 (five) years. The MPR is a state high institution authorized to amend and stipulate state constitutions. The MPR is a state high institution that appoints the president and vice president. The MPR can only dismiss the president and or vice president in his term of office according to the constitution.