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Junta is a board and card game for two to seven players. It was developed by West End Games and originally released in 1985.
Players in Junta represent members of the corrupt government of a banana republic. At any given time, one player is the President (selected by vote among players), who then assigns cabinet positions to the other players. Cabinet positions include the Minister of Internal Security, Generals of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd armies, Admiral of the Navy, and the Chief of the Air Force.
Every turn represents a year, during which the President draws money from a pile of bills (8 bills in $1 to $3, with many more ones than threes). Only the President knows the amount drawn. Based on this, the President proposes a budget, distributing the money among cabinet members (possibly keeping all for himself). Play proceeds until the last money is drawn. The objective of the game for each player is to embezzle as much money from these budgets into their Swiss bank accounts as possible.
Each player controls a voting contituency (such as "Intellectuals," "Labor Unions," or "Communists") that contributes votes towards the approval of a budget. When budgets fail (or are passed at gunpoint), there is an excuse for a coup. In the event of a coup, a simulation of fighting in the capital is played out on a board, with the three armies, the marines, the police and the palace guards all present. In addition, other groups (such as union rioters, student protesters, or armed rebels) can come into play through the playing of special cards. While sides are declared at the beginning of the coup (loyalist vs. rebel), anyone besides the individual who started the coup can switch sides at the end. Either way, the budget is immediately redistributed as seen fit by the President (elected on the spot if the earlier President is overthrown). Other factors within the game include assassins, windfalls, and spies.
The primary intrigue of the game exists not in the mechanics of the rules, however, but in the negotiations between players. Often, players will have "private meetings" (out of earshot of other players) to negotiate secret alliances. Players may barter with any resources they have, including cash on hand (i.e. not yet in their Swiss bank account), cards in hand, and favors. The number of coups that occur in a given game is entirely determined by the bloodthirstiness, greed, and guile of the players.
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