Country name
conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form : Republica Dominicana
local short form: none

Data code DR

Government type republic

National capital Santo Domingo

Administrative divisions 29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito);Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana,La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata,Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal,San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde

Independence 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

National holiday Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Constitution 28 November 1966

Legal system based on French civil codes

Suffrage 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardlessof age
note : members of the armed forces and police cannot vote

Executive branch
chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice PresidentJaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government : President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice PresidentJaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note - the presidentis both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular votefor four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996; runoff election held 30June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000)
election results: President FERNANDEZ elected to his first term; percent of vote - LeonelFERNANDEZ (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 48.75%

Legislative branch bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senateor Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 30 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998); Chamberof Deputies - last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRSC 15, PLD1, PRD 14; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party- PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57

Judicial branch Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by a Council madeup of legislative and executive members with the president presiding

Political parties and leaders
major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo];Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Lidio CADET]; Dominican Revolutionary Partyor PRD [Jose Franciso PENA Gomez]; Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI
minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party or PNVC [Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier];Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD [Andres Van Der HORST]; DemocraticQuisqueyan Party or PQD [Elias WESSIN Chavez]; National Progressive Forceor FNP [Marino VINICIO Castillo]; Popular Christian Party or PPC [RogelioDELGADO Bogaert]; Dominican Communist Party or PCD [Narciso ISA Conde]; DominicanWorkers' Party or PTD [Ivan RODRIGUEZ]; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union orUPA [Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini]; Alliance for Democracy Party or APD [MaximilanoRabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA]; Democratic Unionor UD [Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert]
note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form theDominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual partystructures

Political pressure groups and leaders Collective of Popular Organizations or COP

International organization participation ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie
chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280, 6281
FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans,New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile,and Ponce (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK
embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, SantoDomingo
mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041
telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171, 221-8100
FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Flag description a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag intofour rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the centerof the cross

NOTE: The information regarding Dominican Republic on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Dominican Republic Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Dominican Republic Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.