Romania - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Romania, it was the name derives from the Latin "Romanus" meaning "citizen of Rome" and was used to stress the common ancient heritage of Romania's three main regions - Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia - during their gradual unification between the mid-19th century and early 20th century. The Government system in this country is the semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea
National symbols
Golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow, red.
The flag
The National flag of Romania has three equal vertical bands of cobalt blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed.
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note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
The National Anthem
| Title | "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN |
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note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution
More about the government of Romania
| Date of Independence | 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (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 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991 |
| Amendments | Initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania’s counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or – if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Marcel CIOLACU (since 15 June 2023) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 November 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in November 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament |
| Election results | 2019: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9% 2014: Klaus IOHANNIS elected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 54.4%, Victor PONTA (PSD) 45.6% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of: Senate or Senat (136 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 2 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (330 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 4 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) |
| Elections | Senate - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024) |
| Election results | Senate - percent of vote by party - PSD 29.3%, PNL 25.6%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.9%, AUR 9.2%, UDMR 5.9%, other 14.1%; seats by party - PSD 47, PNL 41, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 25, AUR 14, UDMR 9; composition - men 111, women 24, percentage women 17.8% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSD 28.9%, PNL 25.2%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.4%, AUR 9.1%, UDMR 5.7%, other 15.7%; seats by party - PSD 110, PNL 93, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 55, AUR 33, UDMR 21, other 18; composition - men 265, women 63, percentage women 19.2%; total Parliament percentage women 18.8% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) |
| Judge selection and term of office | High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms |
| Subordinate courts | Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Dan-Andrei MURARU (since 15 September 2021) |
| Chancery | 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 332-4829 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 232-4748 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://washington.mae.ro/en |
| Consulate(s) general | Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Kathleen KAVALEC (since 14 February 2023) |
| Embassy | 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118 |
| Mailing address | 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 |
| Telephone | [40] (21) 200-3300 |
| FAX | [40] (21) 200-3442 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://ro.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Danube Delta (n); Churches of Moldavia (c); Monastery of Horezu (c); Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c); Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c); Historic Center of Sighişoara (c); Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Romania
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Romania
Want to know more about Romania? Check all different factbooks for Romania below.
