Brazil)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1828)

Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended
27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November
1980

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 and head of government: President Julio Maria
SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA
(since 1 March 1995) were elected for five-year terms by popular
vote; election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA
November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General)
Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 27
November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - Colorado
36%, Blanco 34 %, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%; seats -
(30 total) Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New
Sector 1
Chamber of Representatives (Camara de Representantes): elections
last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999);
results - Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New
Sector 5%; seats - (99 total) Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro
Progresista 31, New Sector 5

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the
president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly

Political parties and leaders: National (Blanco) Party, Alberto
VOLONTE Berro; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition,
12 member Executive Secretariat (as of 11 March 1996); New Sector
Coalition, Hugo BATALLA; Encuentro Progresista (EP), Tabare VAZQUEZ

International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC,
ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG,
UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP,
UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ
chancery: 1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chi