|
Government
Uruguay is a democratic constitutional republic. The
presidency is determined by a popular vote. The elected
president, who is both chief of state and head of
government, serves a five-year term. The vice president
is elected on the same party ticket. The president
appoints the thirteen cabinet ministers who head
executive departments.
The
legislative body is the General Assembly, bicameral with
an upper chamber of thirty senators and a lower chamber
of ninety-nine representatives. The legislators are
also elected to five-year terms through the popular
vote.
The
judicial system consists of a layered court system, with
the Supreme Court at the top, followed by appellate and
lower courts. There are also several other court types
including jurisdictions of the electoral, the
administrative, accounts, and military matters.
The
Uruguayan legal system is ultimately based upon the
Constitution, with written laws passed by the Parliament
and executed by the president.
Uruguay has South America’s oldest two-party system.
The two political parties are the Colorados (reds) and
the Blancos (whites). These parties have been in
existence for over 150 years and have alternated holding
power.
In
summary, the Uruguayan government has been compared to
that of Switzerland and is a model for many other
countries.
|
