<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Paraguay<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Republic of Paraguay
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Paraguay
<item>• <hi format=ital>local long form:</hi> Republica del Paraguay
<item>• <hi format=ital>local short form:</hi> Paraguay
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<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> PA
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> republic
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Asuncion
<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 19 departments (departamentos, singular—departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was promulgated on 20 June 1992
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993); Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May 1998); results—Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; nominated by the president
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<item><hi format=bold>Legislative branch:</hi> bicameral Congress (Congreso)
<item><hi format=bold>Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores):</hi> elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May 1998); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(45 total) Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8
<item><hi format=bold>Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados):</hi> elections last held on 9 May 1993 (next to be held by May 1998); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(80 total) Colorado Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Colorado Party, Eugenio SANABRIA CANTERO, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; National Encounter (EN), Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS (the EN party includes the following minor parties: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER)
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)