Costa Rica Politics
Conventional Long Form Name of country: Republic of Costa Rica
Capital City: San Jose Type of Government: democratic republic Date of Independence: September 15, 1821 National Holidays: Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Chief of State: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (since 8 May 2010) Head of Government: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (since 8 May 2010)Description of Executive Branch/Powers: Cabinet selected by the president; president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term Description of Legislative Branch/Powers: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for renewable eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Diplomatic representation in the U.S.: Ambassador Shanon Muni FIGUERES Boggs 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic represenation from the U.S.: Ambassador Anne Slaughter ANDREW Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose no consulates Representative to UN:Eduardo ULIBARRI Bilbao National Symbol: clay-colored robin known as Yiguirro |
Description of Flag: Five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people
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