isions: 19 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno,
Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio
Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta
y Tres

Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended
27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November
1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November
1989 and 7 January 1997

Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: chief of state: President Jorge BATLLE (since 1
March 2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government

head of government: President Jorge BATLLE (since 1 March 2000) and
Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
parliamentary approval

elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 31 October
1999 with run-off election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA
2004)

election results: Jorge BATLLE elected president; percent of vote -
Jorge BATLLE 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ 44%

Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General
consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 1999 (next to
be held NA 2004); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October
1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 12, Colorado Party 10,
Blanco 7, New Sector/Space Coalition 1; Chamber of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Encuentro
Progresista 40, Colorado Party 33, Blanco 22, New Sector/Space
Coalition 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the
president