Politics of Uruguay
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| Uruguay |
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The Politics of Uruguay abide by a presidential representative democratic republic, under which the President of Uruguay is both the head of state and the head of government, as well as a multiform party system. The government exercises executive power and Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the General Assembly of Uruguay. The Judiciary branch is independent from that of the executive and legislature. The Colorado and National parties have been locked in a power struggle, alternating throughout most of Uraguay's history. The elections of 2004, however, brought the Encuentro Progresista-Frente Amplio-Nueva Mayoría, a coalition of socialists, former Tupamaros, communists, social democrats, and Christians democrats among others to power with majorities in both houses of parliament. A majority vote elected President Tabaré Vázquez Rosas.
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[edit] Constitution
Uruguay adopted it's first constitution in 1830, following the conclusion of a three year war in which Argentina and Uruguay fought as a regional federation: the United Provinces of Río de la Plata. Sponsored by the United Kingdom, the 1828 Treaty of Montevideo built the foundations for a Uruguayan state and constitution. Attempts to reform the 1830 constitution in 1966 led to the adoption of an entirely new document in 1967. A constitution proposed under a military revolution in 1980 was rejected by a vote of the entire electorate.
[edit] Executive branch
Uruguay's Constitution of 1967 created a strong presidency, subject to legislative and judicial balance. Many of these provisions were suspended in 1973 but reestablished in 1985. The president, who is both the head of state and the head of government, is elected by popular vote for a five-year term, with the vice president elected on the same ticket. Thirteen cabinet ministers, appointed by the president, head various executive departments.
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Tabaré Vázquez Rosas | FA | 1 March 2005 |
| Vice-president | Rodolfo Nin Novoa | FA | 1 March 2005 |
[edit] Legislative branch
The General Assembly (Asamblea General) has two chambers. The Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) has 99 members, elected for a five year term by proportional representation. The Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) has 31 members; 30 members are elected for a five year term by proportional representation and the Vice-president who presides it.
[edit] Judicial branch
The Supreme Court is the highest court. Its judges are elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly. Below the Supreme Courty are appellate and lower courts, as well as justices of the peace. There are also electoral and administrative ("contentious") courts, an accounts court, and a military justice system.
[edit] Direct democracy
The Uruguayan constitution allows citizens to challenge laws approved by Parliament by use of a referendum or to propose changes to the Constitution by the use of a plebiscite. This right has been used a few times in the past 15 years: to confirm an amnesty to members of the military who violated human rights during the military regime (1973-1985), to stop privatization of public utilities companies, to defend pensioners' incomes, and to protect water resources.[citation needed]
[edit] Political parties and elections
| Candidates - Parties | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Tabaré Vázquez (Broad Front – Progressive Encounter – New Majority) | 1,124,761 | 51.67 |
| Jorge Larrañaga (National Party) | 764,739 | 35.13 |
| Guillermo Stirling (Colorado Party) | 231,036 | 10.61 |
| Pablo Mieres (Independent Party) | 41,011 | 1.89 |
| Victor Lissidini (Intransigent Party) | 8,572 | 0.39 |
| Aldo Lamorte (Civic Union Party) | 4,859 | 0.22 |
| Julio Vera (Liberal Party) | 1,548 | 0.07 |
| Rafael Fernández (Workers Party) | 513 | 0.02 |
| Total (turnout 89.6 %) | ||
| Source: Corte Electoral | ||
| Parties and alliances | Votes | Chamber of Deputies | Chamber of Senators | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | Seats | % | Seats | ||
Broad Front – Progressive Encounter – New Majority (Frente Amplio – Encuentro Progresista – Nueva Mayoría)
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51.7 | 52 | 17 | ||
| National Party (Partido Nacional-Blancos) | 35.1 | 36 | 11 | ||
| Colorado Party (Partido Colorado) | 10.6 | 10 | 3 | ||
| Independent Party (Partido Independiente) | 1.9 | 1 | - | ||
| Total (turnout %) | 99 | 31 | |||
| Source: Corte Electoral and El País Uruguay, Angus Reid | |||||
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[edit] International organization participation
Uruguay or Uruguayan organizations participate in the following international organizations:
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Group of 77 (G-77)
- Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- ICC
- ICC
- International Red Cross
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
- International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- IMF
- International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- Interpol
- IOC
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- Latin American Economic System (LAES)
- Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
- Mercosur
- United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
- United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
- Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) (observer)
- OAS
- Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)
- Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
- Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
- RG
- United Nations
- United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)
- United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)
- United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
- United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT)
- United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)
- Universal Postal Union (UPU)
- World Confederation of Labour (WCL)
- World Customs Organization (WCO)
- World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- World Tourism Organization (WToO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
[edit] Links
- (Spanish) vecinet PRESS The First Uruguayan Neighborhood and Documentatio Agency
- Political Data Bank at the Social Sciences School of the Universidad de la República (Uruguay)
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