Uruguay - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Uruguay, it was name derives from the Spanish pronunciation of the Guarani Indian designation of the Uruguay River, which makes up the western border of the country and whose name later came to be applied to the entire country. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandú, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San José, Soriano, Tacuarembó, Treinta y Tres
National symbols
Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: blue, white, yellow.
The flag
The National flag of Uruguay has nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face (delineated in black) known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy; the stripes represent the nine original departments of Uruguay; the sun symbol evokes the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was first declared from Spain (Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil); the sun features are said to represent those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun.
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note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag
The National Anthem
| Title | "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI |
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note: adopted 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it is the world's longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars; almost five minutes); generally only the first verse and chorus are sung
More about the government of Uruguay
| Date of Independence | 25 August 1825 (from Brazil) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 25 August (1825) |
| Legal system | civil law system based on the Spanish civil code |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967, reinstated in 1985 at the conclusion of military rule |
| Amendments | Initiated by public petition of at least 10% of qualified voters, proposed by agreement of at least two fifths of the General Assembly membership, or by existing "constitutional laws" sanctioned by at least two thirds of the membership in both houses of the Assembly; proposals can also be submitted by senators, representatives, or by the executive power and require the formation of and approval in a national constituent convention; final passage by either method requires approval by absolute majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2004 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | yes |
| Citizenship by descent only | yes |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 3-5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (since 1 March 2020) |
| Head of government | President Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (since 1 March 2020) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly |
| Elections/appointments | president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 27 October 2024 with a runoff on 24 November 2024 (next to be held on 28 October 2029 and a runoff, if needed, on 25 November 2029) |
| Election results | 2024: Yamandú ORSI Martínez elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez (FA) 46.2%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta (PN) 28.2%, Andrés OJEDA Ojeda Spitz (PC) 16.9%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez 52.1%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta 47.9%; note - ORSI will take office 1 March 2025 2019: Luis Alberto LACALLE POU elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 40.7%, Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (PN) 29.7%, Ernesto TALVI (Colorado Party) 12.8%, Guido MANINI RIOS (Open Cabildo) 11.3%, other 5.5%; percent of vote in second round - Luis Alberto LACALLE POU 50.6%, Daniel MARTINEZ 49.4% 2014: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president in second round; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ (Socialist Party) 56.5%, Luis Alberto LACALLE Pou (PN) 43.4% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of: Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; the vice-president serves as the presiding ex-officio member; elected members serve 5-year terms) Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method; members serve 5-year terms) |
| Elections | Chamber of Senators - last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held on 27 October 2024) Chamber of Representatives - last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held on 27 October 2024) |
| Election results | Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Frente Amplio 13, National Party 10, Colorado Party 4, Open Cabildo 3; composition - men 21, women 10, percentage women 32.3% Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 42, National Party 30, Colorado Party 13, Open Cabildo 11, Independent Party 1, other 2; composition - men 74, women 25, percentage women 25.3%; note - total General Assembly percentage women 26.9% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Judges nominated by the president and appointed by two-thirds vote in joint conference of the General Assembly; judges serve 10-year terms, with reelection possible after a lapse of 5 years following the previous term |
| Subordinate courts | Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Andrés Augusto DURÁN Hareau (since 23 December 2020) |
| Chancery | 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 331-1313 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 331-8142 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://embassyofuruguay.us/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Miami, New York, San Francisco |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Heide B. FULTON (since 22 March 2023) |
| Embassy | Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200 |
| Mailing address | 3360 Montevideo Place, Washington DC 20521-3360 |
| Telephone | (+598) 1770-2000 |
| FAX | [+598] 1770-2128 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://uy.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 3 (all cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Historic City of Colonia del Sacramento; Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape; The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Uruguay
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Uruguay
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