Nicaragua - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Nicaragua, it was Nicarao was the name of the largest indigenous settlement at the time of Spanish arrival; conquistador Gil GONZALEZ Davila, who explored the area (1622-23), combined the name of the community with the Spanish word "agua" (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua). The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonoma); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
National symbols

Turquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white.

The flag
The National flag of Nicaragua has three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water.
The National Anthem
Title "Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)
Lyric/music Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO
More about the government of Nicaragua
Date of Independence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Legal system civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Constitution
History Several previous; latest adopted 19 November 1986, effective 9 January 1987
Amendments Proposed by the president of the republic or assent of at least half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires approval by 60% of the membership of the next elected Assembly and promulgation by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2021
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth yes
Citizenship by descent only yes
Dual citizenship recognized no, except in cases where bilateral agreements exist
Residency requirement for naturalization 4 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
Head of government President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections/appointments president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 7 November 2021 (next to be held on 1 November 2026)
Election results
2021: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a fourth consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 75.9%, Walter ESPINOZA (PLC) 14.3%, Guillermo OSORNO (CCN) 3.3%, Marcelo MONTIEL (ALN) 3.1%, other 3.4%

2016:
Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a third consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 72.4%, Maximino RODRIGUEZ (PLC) 15%, Jose del Carmen ALVARADO (PLI) 4.5%, Saturnino CERRATO Hodgson (ALN) 4.3%, other 3.7%
Legislative branch
Description Unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 statutory seats, current 91; 70 members in multi-seat constituencies, representing the country's 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions, and 20 members in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; up to 2 seats reserved for the previous president and the runner-up candidate in the previous presidential election; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections Last held on 7 November 2021 (next to be held on 1 November 2026)
Election results Percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 75, PLC 9, ALN 2, APRE 1, CCN 1, PLI 1, YATAMA 1; composition - men 42, women 49, percentage women 53.9%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s) Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and constitutional chambers)
Judge selection and term of office Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly to serve 5-year staggered terms
Subordinate courts Appeals Court; first instance civil, criminal, and labor courts; military courts are independent of the Supreme Court
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires M. Lautaro SANDINO Montes (since 23 February 2024)
Chancery 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Telephone [1] (202) 939-6570
FAX [1] (202) 939-6545
Email address and website
[email protected]

United States of America | ConsuladoDeNicaragua.com
Consulate(s) general Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Kevin Michael O'REILLY (since 28 June 2023)
Embassy Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
Mailing address 3240 Managua Place, Washington DC  20521-3240
Telephone [505] 2252-7100,
FAX [505] 2252-7250
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://ni.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites 2 (both cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales Ruins of León Viejo; León Cathedral
Key Political parties and their leaders in Nicaragua
  • International organization participation
  • ACS
  • BCIE
  • CACM
  • CD
  • CELAC
  • FAO
  • G-77
  • IADB
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ISO (correspondent)
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • ITUC (NGOs)
  • LAES
  • LAIA (observer)
  • MIGA
  • NAM
  • OAS
  • OPANAL
  • OPCW
  • PCA
  • Petrocaribe
  • SICA
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNHCR
  • UNIDO
  • Union Latina
  • UNOOSA
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
  • All Important Facts about Nicaragua

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    Nicaragua is found in Central America