argo, 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 Ibanez (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: 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 runoff election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Jorge BATLLE Ibanez elected president; percent of vote -
Jorge BATLLE Ibanez 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: 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
and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)

Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE Ibanez];
National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera]; New Sector/Space
Coalition or Nuevo