Haiti - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Haiti, it was the native Taino name means "Land of High Mountains" and was originally applied to the entire island of Hispaniola. The Government system in this country is the semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 10 departments (départements, singular - département); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
National symbols
Hispaniolan trogon (bird), hibiscus flower; national colors: blue, red.
The flag
The National flag of Haiti has two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colors are taken from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks and mulattoes.
Info
The National Anthem
| Title | "La Dessalinienne" (The Dessalines Song) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD |
Info
note: adopted 1904; named for Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, a leader in the Haitian Revolution and first ruler of an independent Haiti
More about the government of Haiti
| Date of Independence | 1 January 1804 (from France) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 1 January (1804) |
| Legal system | civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt |
| Constitution | |
| History | Many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987, with substantial revisions in June 2012 |
| Amendment process | Proposed by the executive branch or by either the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies; consideration of proposed amendments requires support by at least two-thirds majority of both houses; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the membership present and at least two-thirds majority of the votes cast; approved amendments enter into force after installation of the next president of the republic; constitutional articles on the democratic and republican form of government cannot be amended |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Haiti |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President (vacant) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Alix Didier FILS-AIMÉ (since 10 November 2024) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president; parliament must ratify the Cabinet and Prime Minister's governing policy |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a single non-consecutive term); last election was 20 November 2016; new elections were delayed in 2022 and 2023 and have not been scheduled by the transitional presidential council |
| Election results | 2016: Jovenel MOÏSE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Jovenel MOÏSE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOÏSE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8% 2011: Michel MARTELLY elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Michel MARTELLY (Peasant's Response) 68%, Mirlande MANIGAT (RDNP) 32% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) |
| Legislative structure | Bicameral |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court or Cour de cassation (consists of 12 judges) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly |
| Subordinate courts | Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; magistrate's courts; land, labor, and children's courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Louis Harold JOSEPH (since 15 May 2023) |
| Chancery | 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 332-4090 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 745-7215 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://www.haiti.org/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (FL), New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Dennis HANKINS (since 3 May 2024) |
| Embassy | Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince |
| Mailing address | 3400 Port-au-Prince Place, Washington, DC 20521-3400 |
| Telephone | [011] (509) 2229-8000 |
| FAX | [011] (509) 2229-8027 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://ht.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 1 (cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Haiti
Info
International organization participation
All Important Facts about Haiti
Want to know more about Haiti? Check all different factbooks for Haiti below.
