Portuguese politics operates within a framework of a parliamentary democracy, where the President of Portugal serves as the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The Assembly of the Republic is the country's legislative body, consisting of 230 members elected every four years. Political parties play a significant role, with the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party being the two main parties. Elections in Portugal are held for both the national and local levels, allowing citizens to participate in the democratic process. The political landscape is characterized by a multi-party system, which encourages coalition-building and collaboration among various parties to form a stable government.