The Government of Panama - The World Countries

Panama - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Panama, it was named after the capital city which was itself named after a former indigenous fishing village. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 4 indigenous regions* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Guna Yala*, Herrera, Los Santos, Naso Tjer Di*, Ngabe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas

National symbols

Harpy eagle; national colors: blue, white, red.

The flag

The National flag of Panama has divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law.

The National Anthem

Title	"Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn)
Lyric/music	Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE

note: adopted 1925

More about the government of Panama

Constitution
Date of Independence	3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821)
National holiday	Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)
Legal system	civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972
Amendments	Proposed by the National Assembly, by the Cabinet, or by the Supreme Court of Justice; passage requires approval by one of two procedures: 1) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in a single reading without textual modifications; 2) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings, followed by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in each of three readings with textual modifications, and approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2004
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	yes
Citizenship by descent only	yes
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	5 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)
Head of government	President José Raúl MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)
Cabinet	Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections/appointments	president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term; president eligible for a single non-consecutive term); election last held on 5 May 2024 (next to be held in May 2029)
Election results	2024: José Raúl MULINO Quintero elected president; percent of vote - José Raúl MULINO Quintero (RM) 34.2%, Ricardo Alberto LOMBANA González (MOCA) 24.6%, Martín Erasto TORRIJOS Espino (PP) 16%, Rómulo Alberto ROUX Moses (CD) 11.4%, Zulay RODRÍGUEZ Lu (independent) 6.6%, José Gabriel CARRIZO Jaén (PRD) 5.9%, other 1.3% 2019: Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen elected president; percent of vote - Laurentino CORTIZO Cohen (PRD) 33.3%, Romulo ROUX (CD) 31%, Ricardo LOMBANA (independent) 18.8%, Jose BLANDON (Panameñista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3%
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; 45 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - populous towns and cities - by open list proportional representation vote and 26 directly elected in single-seat constituencies - outlying rural districts - by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections	Last held on 5 May 2024 (next to be held in May 2029)
Election results	Percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 21, PRD 13, RM 13, CD 8, Panameñista 8, MOCA 3, PA 2, PP 2, MOLIRENA 1
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers)
Judge selection and term of office	Magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms
Subordinate courts	Appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 of the 10 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador José Miguel ALEMÁN HEALY (since 18 September 2024)
Chancery	2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 483-1407
FAX	[1] (202) 483-8413
Email address and website	[email protected] https://www.embassyofpanama.org/
Consulate(s) general	Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Mari Carmen APONTE (since 21 November 2022)
Embassy	Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton
Mailing address	9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100
Telephone	[507] 317-5000
FAX	[507] 317-5568
Email address and website	[email protected] https://pa.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	5 (2 cultural, 3 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Caribbean Fortifications (c); Darien National Park (n); Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (n); Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá (c); Coiba National Park (n)