regioes autonomas, singular -
regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca,
Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa,
Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo,
Vila Real, Viseu

Independence: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)

National holiday: Portugal Day, 10 June (1580)

Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5
November 1992, and 3 September 1997

Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews
the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9
March 1996)

head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera
GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister

note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative
body to the president

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA January
2006); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president

election results: Jorge SAMPAIO re-elected president; percent of
vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 55.8%, Joaquim FERREIRA Do Amaral
(Social Democrat) 34.5%, Antonio ABREU (Communist) 5.1%

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or
Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 10 October 1999 (next to be held by NA October
2003)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PS 115, PSD 81, PCP 15, PP 15, PEV 2, The Left Bloc 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica
(judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)

Political parties and leaders: The Greens or PEV [leader NA];
Popular Party or PP [Paulo PORTAS]; Portuguese Communist
Party/United Democratic Coalition or PCP/CDU [Carlos CARVALHAS];
Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Antonio GUTERRES]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [leader vacant]; The Left Bloc [no leader]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CCC