Politics of Uruguay

Country name:\n
conventional long form:\nOriental Republic of Uruguay\n
conventional short form:\nUruguay\n
local long form:\nRepublica Oriental del Uruguay\n
local short form:\nUruguay\n

Data code:\nUY\n

Government type:\nrepublic\n

Capital:\nMontevideo\n

Administrative divisions:\n19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandú, Río Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San José, Soriano, Tacuarembó, Treinta y Tres\n

Independence:\n25 August 1825 (from Brazil)\n

National holiday:\nIndependence Day, 25 August (1825)\n

Constitution:\n27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997\n

Legal system:\nbased on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction\n

Suffrage:\n18 years of age; universal and compulsory\n

Executive branch:\n
chief of state:\nPresident Jorge BATLLE (since 1 March 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government\n
head of government:\nPresident Jorge BATLLE (since 1 March 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government\n
cabinet:\nCouncil of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval\n
elections:\npresident and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 31 October 1999 with run-off election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)\n
election results:\nJorge BATLLE elected president; percent of vote - 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ\n

Legislative branch:\nbicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)\n
elections:\nChamber of Senators - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)\n
election results:\nChamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 12, Colorado Party 10, Blanco 7, New Sector/Space Coalition 1; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 40, Colorado Party 33, Blanco 22, New Sector/Space Coalition 4\n

Judicial branch:\nSupreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly\n

Political parties and leaders:\nBatllist Forum faction of the Colorado Party [Julio M. SANGUINETTI]; Broad Front Coalition Tabare VAZQUEZ; 15th List of the Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE]; Herrerista faction of the National Party [Luis A. LACALLE]; Herrero Wilsonista faction of the National Party [Alberto VOLONTE]; National Party or Blanco [Luis A. LACALLE]; New Sector/Space Coalition or Nuevo Espacio [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter in the Broad Front or Encuentro Progresista [Tabare VAZQUEZ]\n

International organization participation:\nCCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO\n

Flag description:\nnine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy

See also : Uruguay\nCategory:Uruguay