Panama - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Panama, it was named after the capital city which was itself named after a former indigenous fishing village. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 4 indigenous regions* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Guna Yala*, Herrera, Los Santos, Naso Tjer Di*, Ngabe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas
National symbols
Harpy eagle; national colors: blue, white, red.
The flag
The National flag of Panama has divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE |
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note: adopted 1925
More about the government of Panama
| Date of Independence | 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903) |
| Legal system | civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972 |
| Amendments | Proposed by the National Assembly, by the Cabinet, or by the Supreme Court of Justice; passage requires approval by one of two procedures: 1) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in a single reading without textual modifications; 2) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings, followed by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in each of three readings with textual modifications, and approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2004 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | yes |
| Citizenship by descent only | yes |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019) |
| Head of government | President Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen (since 1 July 2019) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet appointed by the president |
| Elections/appointments | president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term; president eligible for a single non-consecutive term); election last held on 5 May 2024 (next to be held in May 2029) |
| Election results | 2024: José Raúl MULINO Quintero elected president; percent of vote - José Raúl MULINO Quintero (RM) 34.2%, Ricardo Alberto LOMBANA González (MOCA) 24.6%, Martín Erasto TORRIJOS Espino (PP) 16%, Rómulo Alberto ROUX Moses (CD) 11.4%, Zulay RODRÍGUEZ Lu (independent) 6.6%, José Gabriel CARRIZO Jaén (PRD) 5.9%, other 1.3%; note - MULINO will take office 1 July 2024 2019: Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen elected president; percent of vote - Laurentino CORTIZO Cohen (PRD) 33.3%, Romulo ROUX (CD) 31%, Ricardo LOMBANA (independent) 18.8%, Jose BLANDON (Panameñista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3% 2014: Juan Carlos VARELA elected president; percent of vote - Juan Carlos VARELA (PP) 39.1%, Jose Domingo ARIAS (CD) 31.4%, Juan Carlos NAVARRO (PRD) 28.2%, other 1.3% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; 45 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - populous towns and cities - by open list proportional representation vote and 26 directly elected in single-seat constituencies - outlying rural districts - by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) |
| Elections | Last held on 5 May 2024 (next to be held in May 2029) |
| Election results | Percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 21, PRD 13, RM 13, CD 8, Panameñista 8, MOCA 3, PA 2, PP 2, MOLIRENA 1 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms |
| Subordinate courts | Appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 of the 10 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Ramón Eduardo MARTÍNEZ DE LA GUARDIA (since 16 September 2022) |
| Chancery | 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 483-1407 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 483-8413 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://www.embassyofpanama.org/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Mari Carmen APONTE (since 21 November 2022) |
| Embassy | Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton |
| Mailing address | 9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100 |
| Telephone | [507] 317-5000 |
| FAX | [507] 317-5568 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://pa.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 5 (2 cultural, 3 natural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Caribbean Fortifications (c); Darien National Park (n); Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (n); Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá (c); Coiba National Park (n) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Panama
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Panama
Want to know more about Panama? Check all different factbooks for Panama below.
