The Azores and Madeira have a political/administrative regime of
their own. This is justified by their geographic particularities
and based on their populations' wish for self-government.
The regional government organs - regional assemblies and
governments - possess broad powers to define their region's
policies. This does not apply in the fields of foreign policy,
defence and internal security, the competence for which pertains to
the entities and organs of the Republic.
The regional assemblies are elected using the same method as
that applicable to the Assembly of the Republic, and the regional
governments are formed in the same way as the national
Government.