long form: Republic of Guatemala

conventional short form: Guatemala

local long form: Republica de Guatemala

local short form: Guatemala

Government type: constitutional democratic republic

Capital: Guatemala

Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango,
Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango,
Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu,
Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez,
Totonicapan, Zacapa

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note -
suspended 25 May 1993 by former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June
1993 following ouster of president; amended November 1993

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the
armed forces may not vote)

Executive branch: chief of state: President Alfonso Antonio
PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14 January 2000); Vice President Juan
Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14 January 2000); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera
(since 14 January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez
(since 14 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government

cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the president

elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 7 November 1999; runoff held 26 December 1999
(next to be held NA November 2003)

election results: Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera elected
president; percent of vote - Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG)
68%, Oscar BERGER Perdomo (PAN) 32%

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso
de la Republica (113 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)

elections: last held on 7 November 1999 (next to be held in
November 2003)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
FRG 63, PAN 37, ANN 9, DCG 2, UD/LOV 1, PLP 1

note: for the 7 November 1999 election, the number of congressional
seats was increased from 80 to 113

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de