Politics of Uruguay (original) (raw)

Country name:
_conventional long form:_Oriental Republic of Uruguay
_conventional short form:_Uruguay
_local long form:_Republica Oriental del Uruguay
_local short form:_Uruguay

**Data code:**UY

**Government type:**republic

**Capital:**Montevideo

**Administrative divisions:**19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysand�, R�o Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jos�, Soriano, Tacuaremb�, Treinta y Tres

**Independence:**25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

**National holiday:**Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

**Constitution:**27 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

**Legal system:**based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

**Suffrage:**18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
_chief of state:_President 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
_head of government:_President 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
_cabinet:_Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval
_elections:_president 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)
_election results:_Jorge BATLLE elected president; percent of vote - 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ

**Legislative branch:**bicameral 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)
_elections:_Chamber 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)
_election results:_Chamber 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

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

**Political parties and leaders:**Batllist Forum faction of the [[Colorado Party][ColoradoPartyOfUrugay]] [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]

**International organization participation:**CCC, 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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
_chief of mission:_Ambassador Hugo Fernandez Faingold
_chancery:_2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
_telephone:_[1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
_FAX:_[1] (202) 331-8142
_consulate(s) general:_Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
_chief of mission:_Ambassador Silverstein
_embassy:_Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
_mailing address:_APO AA 34035
_telephone:_[598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77
_FAX:_[598] (2) 48 86 11

**Flag description:**nine 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