<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Dominican Republic<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Dominican Republic
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> none
<item>• <hi format=ital>local long form:</hi> Republica Dominicana
<item>• <hi format=ital>local short form:</hi> none
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<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> DR
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> republic
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Santo Domingo
<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 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
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 28 November 1966
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on French civil codes
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal and compulsory or married persons regardless of age
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
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<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, fifth elected term began 16 August 1990); Vice President Carlos A. MORALES Troncoso (since 16 August 1986); election last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results—Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 35.7%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 34.4%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 22.9%
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; nominated by the president
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<item><hi format=bold>Legislative branch:</hi> bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
<item><hi format=bold>Senate (Senado):</hi> elections last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(30 total) PRSC 16, PLD 12, PRD 2
<item><hi format=bold>Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados):</hi> elections last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(120 total) PLD 44, PRSC 41, PRD 33, PRI 2
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi>
<item><hi format=bold>Major parties:</hi> Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo; Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Juan BOSCH Gavino; Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Franciso PENA Gomez; Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA
<item><hi format=bold>Minor parties:</hi> National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD), Andres Van Der HORST; Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN Chavez; National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert; Dominican Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde; Dominican Workers' Party (PTD), Ivan RODRIGUEZ; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini; Alliance for Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain individual party structures
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<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Collective of Popular Organzations (COP), leader NA
<item>• <hi format=ital>consulate(s) general:</hi> Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
<item>• <hi format=ital>consulate(s):</hi> Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Mobile, Ponce (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> Ambassador Robert S. PASTORINO
<item>• <hi format=ital>embassy:</hi> corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
<item>• <hi format=ital>mailing address:</hi> Unit 5500, Santo Domingo; APO AA 34041-0008
<item>• <hi format=ital>telephone:</hi> (809) 541-2171 and 541-8100
<item>• <hi format=ital>FAX:</hi> (809) 686-7437
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<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four 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 center of the cross