DOMINICAN REPUBLIC & POLITICS
Conventional Long Form Name: Dominican Republic
Capital: Santo Domingo
Type of Government: Democratic Republic
Date of Independence: February 27 1844 (from Haiti)
National Holidays: Independence Day, February 27 (1844)
Chief of State: President Danilo Medina Sanchez
Head of Government: President Danilo Medina Sanchez
Executive Branch Powers: Cabinet nominated by the president. President and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms.
Legislative Branch Powers: Unicameral Parliament (87 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); In addition, there are up to nine nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as Nominated Members of Parliament
Judicial Branch Powers: Supreme Civil and Criminal Court; all judges are appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Supreme Administrative Court and Court of Auditors; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote; note - members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote by law
Name of Ambassador to the U.S. : Ambassador Anibal de Jesus de CASTRO Rodriguez
Location of embassy in the U.S. : 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Location(s) of consulate(s) in the U.S. : Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Sun Valley (California)
Name of U.S. Ambassador: Ambassador Raul H. YZAGUIRRE
Location of U.S. embassy THERE: Corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
Location(s) of U.S. consulate(s): None listed
Name of THEIR representative to UN: Héctor Virgilio Alcántara
Flag Description: A centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes
National Symbol: Palmchat (bird)
Capital: Santo Domingo
Type of Government: Democratic Republic
Date of Independence: February 27 1844 (from Haiti)
National Holidays: Independence Day, February 27 (1844)
Chief of State: President Danilo Medina Sanchez
Head of Government: President Danilo Medina Sanchez
Executive Branch Powers: Cabinet nominated by the president. President and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms.
Legislative Branch Powers: Unicameral Parliament (87 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); In addition, there are up to nine nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as Nominated Members of Parliament
Judicial Branch Powers: Supreme Civil and Criminal Court; all judges are appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Supreme Administrative Court and Court of Auditors; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote; note - members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote by law
Name of Ambassador to the U.S. : Ambassador Anibal de Jesus de CASTRO Rodriguez
Location of embassy in the U.S. : 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Location(s) of consulate(s) in the U.S. : Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Sun Valley (California)
Name of U.S. Ambassador: Ambassador Raul H. YZAGUIRRE
Location of U.S. embassy THERE: Corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
Location(s) of U.S. consulate(s): None listed
Name of THEIR representative to UN: Héctor Virgilio Alcántara
Flag Description: A centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes
National Symbol: Palmchat (bird)