Dominican Republic

Basic Information Leaders Political Parties Elections
Flag and Shield Political Divisions International Involvement  

 Basic Information 
The Dominican Republic gained its independence from Haiti on February 27, 1844. Its current constitution was adopted on August 14, 1994 and its legal system is based on French civil codes. Suffrage is granted to persons 18 years of age, universally and compulsorily, and to married persons regardless of age, but members of the armed forces and police cannot vote.

 Leaders 
President Leonel Fernandez Reyna

Picture courtesy of
www.presidencia.gov.do
Executive branch:
Chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996)
Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996)
Note: the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996)
Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996)
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress consists of the Senate (30 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (120 seats).
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

 Political Parties 
Political parties Leaders
Major Parties:  
Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo
Dominican Liberation Party or PLD Lidio CADET
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD Enmanuel ESQUEA
Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI N/A
Minor Parties:  
National Veterans and Civilian Party or PNVC Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier
Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD Andres Van Der HORST
Democratic Quisqueyan Party or PQD Elias WESSIN Chavez
National Progressive Force or FNP Pelegrin CASTILLO
Popular Christian Party or PPC Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert
Dominican Communist Party or PCD Narciso ISA Conde
Dominican Workers' Party or PTD Ivan RODRIGUEZ
Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union or UPA Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini
Alliance for Democracy Party or APD Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA
Democratic Union or UD Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert
Note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures.

 Elections 
Executive Branch
  The president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term.
  Last election: May 16, 1996 (runoff election held 30 June 1996)
Election results:
  Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna elected president
  Percent of vote: Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (PLD): 51.25%
Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD): 48.75%
  Next election: May 16, 2000
Legislative Branch
Senate Last Election: May 16, 1998
  Next Election: May 2002
Chamber of Deputies Last Election: May 16, 1998
  Next Election: May 2002
Election Results:
Senate Seats by party: PRD: 24
PLD: 4
PRSC: 2
Chamber of Deputies Seats by party: PRD: 83
PLD: 49
PRSC: 17
Judicial Branch
Judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding.

 Flag and Shield 
The flag was conceived by Juan Pablo Duarte, who initially drew a white cross on the Haitian flag, which is divided horizontally in two equal parts with blue above and the red below.
The shield in the center consists of a classic shield, point down, in the lower part and a high triangle, point down, made with the national colors. In the center of the shield, 6 flag-carrying spears, 4 with flags hanging down, support the open Bible and the cross above it.
Along the left is a laurel branch (for immortality) and on the right a palm branch (for freedom), all united by a red bow that symbolizes glory. Above the bow a red festoon says Dominican Republic. At the top of the shield is a blue ribbon with the essential words of patriotism: God, Mother country, and Freedom.

Shield courtesy of
www.dominicana.com.do

 Political Divisions 
The Dominican Republic has 29 provinces and 1 district*:
Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde

Map courtesy of
www.aguaita.com

 International Involvement 
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

E N   E S P A � O L
Historia - La gente - Geograf�a - Cultura - Econom�a - Gobierno - Arquitectura
 
I N   E N G L I S H
History - People - Geography - Culture - Economy - Government - Architecture


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