Estonia - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Estonia, it was derives from the name of the people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D., which came from the Baltic word aueist, meaning "waterside dwellers". The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 15 urban municipalities (linnad, singular - linn), 64 rural municipalities (vallad, singular - vald)
urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru
rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru
urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru
rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru
National symbols
Barn swallow, cornflower.
The flag
The National flag of Estonia has .
Info
The National Anthem
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More about the government of Estonia
| Date of Independence | 24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) |
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| National holiday | Independence Day, 24 February (1918) |
| Legal system | civil law system |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992 |
| Amendment process | Proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament |
| Election/appointment process | president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the most votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament |
| Most recent election date | 30-31 August 2021 |
| Election results | 2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes 2016: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank); KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first female head of state of Estonia |
| Expected date of next election | 2026 |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 101 (all directly elected) |
| Electoral system | Proportional representation |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 4 years |
| Most recent election date | 3/5/2023 |
| Parties elected and seats per party | Reform Party (37); Conservative People's Party (EKRE) (17); Centre Party (16); Estonia 200 (Eesti 200) (14); Social Democratic Party (9); Pro Patria (Isamaa) (8) |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 28.7% |
| Expected date of next election | March 2027 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers) |
| Judge selection and term of office | The chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu; justices appointed for life |
| Subordinate courts | Circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021) |
| Chancery | 2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 588-0101 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 588-0108 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://washington.mfa.ee/ |
| Consulate(s) general | New York, San Francisco |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Matthew E. WALL (since January 2025) |
| Embassy | Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn |
| Mailing address | 4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20521-4530 |
| Telephone | [372] 668-8100 |
| FAX | [372] 668-8265 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://ee.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 2 (both cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Estonia
Info
International organization participation
All Important Facts about Estonia
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