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GovernmentCountry name
Conventional long form
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Conventional short form VenezuelaLocal long form Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela Local short form VenezuelaGovernment type
Federal republic
Capital
Name Caracas
Geographic coordinates 10 29 N, 66 52 W Time difference UTC-4.5 (half an hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Administrative divisions
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia Note The federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands Independence
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution
30 December 1999; amended 15 February 2009 Legal system
Civil law system based on the Spanish civil code International law organization participation
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; state party to the ICCT Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state
President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 2 February 1999); Executive Vice President Elias Jose JAUA Milano (since 26 January 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government Head of government President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 2 February 1999); Executive Vice President Elias Jose JAUA Milano (since 26 January 2010) Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the president Elections President elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for unlimited reelection); election last held on 3 December 2006 (next election expected to be held in 7 October 2012 pending official convocation by the country's electoral body) Note In 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of this constitution; in 2009, a national referendum approved the elimination of term limits on all elected officials, including the presidency Election results Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%, other 0.2% Legislative branch
Unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats; members elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela) Elections Last held on 26 September 2010 (next to be held in 2015) Election results Percent of vote by party - pro-government 48.9%, opposition coalition 47.9%, other 3.2%; seats by party - pro-government 98, opposition 65, other 2 Judicial branch
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (32 magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term) Political parties and leaders
A New Time or UNT [Omar BARBOZA]; Brave People's Alliance or ABP [Antonio LEDEZMA]; Christian Democrats or COPEI [Luis Ignacio PLANAS]; Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV [Oscar FIGUERA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS ALLUP]; Fatherland for All or PPT [Simon CALZADILLA]; For Social Democracy or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Nicolas SOSA]; Popular Will or VP [Leopoldo LOPEZ]; The Democratic Unity Table or MUD [Ramon Guillermo AVELEDO]; The Radical Cause [Daniel SANTOLO]; United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS ROMER] Political pressure groups and leaders
Bolivarian and Socialist Workers' Union (a ruling party labor union); Confederacion Venezolana de Industriales or Coindustria (a conservative business group); Consejos Comunales (pro-Chavez local cooperatives); FEDECAMARAS (a conservative business group); Union of Oil Workers of Venezuela or FUTPV; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (opposition-oriented labor organization); various civil society groups and human rights organizations International organization participation
Caricom (observer), CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the us
Chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angelo RIVERO Santos Chancery 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 Telephone [1] (202) 342-2214FAX [1] (202) 342-6820 Consulate(s) general Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami (administratively closed), New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the us
Chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James M. DERHAM Embassy Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080 Mailing address P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037 Telephone [58] (212) 975-6411, 907-8400 (after hours) FAX [58] (212) 907-8199Flag description
Three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band; the flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; yellow is interpreted as standing for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence; the seven stars on the original flag represented the seven provinces in Venezuela that united in the war of independence; in 2006, President Hugo CHAVEZ ordered an eighth star added to the star arc - a decision that sparked much controversy - to conform with the flag proclaimed by Simon Bolivar in 1827 and to represent the province of Guayana National symbol(s)
Troupial (bird)
National anthem
Name
"Gloria al bravo pueblo" (Glory to the Brave Nation) Lyrics/music Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA Note Adopted 1881; the lyrics were written in 1810, the music some years later; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela's struggle for independence
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Venezuela (Caracas):
 
GPS points from Venezuela (Caracas)
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Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his "21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking capitalist globalization and existing democratic institutions. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.