Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol); national colors: blue, white, yellow.
Title | "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay) |
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Lyric/music | Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI |
Date of Independence | 25 August 1825 (from Brazil) |
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National holiday | Independence Day, 25 August (1825) |
Legal system | civil law system based on the Spanish civil code |
International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
Constitution | |
History | Several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967, reinstated in 1985 at the conclusion of military rule |
Amendments | Initiated by public petition of at least 10% of qualified voters, proposed by agreement of at least two fifths of the General Assembly membership, or by existing "constitutional laws" sanctioned by at least two thirds of the membership in both houses of the Assembly; proposals can also be submitted by senators, representatives, or by the executive power and require the formation of and approval in a national constituent convention; final passage by either method requires approval by absolute majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2004 |
Citizenship | |
Citizenship by birth | yes |
Citizenship by descent only | yes |
Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
Residency requirement for naturalization | 3-5 years |
Executive Branch | |
Chief of state | President Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (since 1 March 2020) |
Head of government | President Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (since 1 March 2020) |
Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly |
Elections/appointments | president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 27 October 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held on 27 October 2024 and a runoff, if needed, on 24 November 2024) |
Election results | 2019: Luis Alberto LACALLE POU elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 40.7%, Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (PN) 29.7%, Ernesto TALVI (Colorado Party) 12.8%, Guido MANINI RIOS (Open Cabildo) 11.3%, other 5.5%; percent of vote in second round - Luis Alberto LACALLE POU 50.6%, Daniel MARTINEZ 49.4% 2014: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president in second round; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ (Socialist Party) 56.5%, Luis Alberto LACALLE Pou (PN) 43.4% |
Legislative branch | |
Description | Bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of: Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; the vice-president serves as the presiding ex-officio member; elected members serve 5-year terms) Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method; members serve 5-year terms) |
Elections | Chamber of Senators - last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held on 27 October 2024) Chamber of Representatives - last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held on 27 October 2024) |
Election results | Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Frente Amplio 13, National Party 10, Colorado Party 4, Open Cabildo 3; composition - men 21, women 10, percentage women 32.3% Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by coalition/party - Frente Amplio 42, National Party 30, Colorado Party 13, Open Cabildo 11, Independent Party 1, other 2; composition - men 74, women 25, percentage women 25.3%; note - total General Assembly percentage women 26.9% |
Judicial branch | |
Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges) |
Judge selection and term of office | Judges nominated by the president and appointed by two-thirds vote in joint conference of the General Assembly; judges serve 10-year terms, with reelection possible after a lapse of 5 years following the previous term |
Subordinate courts | Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | |
Chief of mission | Ambassador Andrés Augusto DURÁN Hareau (since 23 December 2020) |
Chancery | 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 |
Telephone | [1] (202) 331-1313 |
FAX | [1] (202) 331-8142 |
Email address and website | [email protected] https://embassyofuruguay.us/ |
Consulate(s) general | Miami, New York, San Francisco |
Diplomatic representation from the US | |
Chief of mission | Ambassador Heide B. FULTON (since 22 March 2023) |
Embassy | Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200 |
Mailing address | 3360 Montevideo Place, Washington DC 20521-3360 |
Telephone | (+598) 1770-2000 |
FAX | [+598] 1770-2128 |
Email address and website | [email protected] https://uy.usembassy.gov/ |
National heritage | |
Total World Heritage Sites | 3 (all cultural) |
Selected World Heritage Site locales | Historic City of Colonia del Sacramento; Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape; The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida |
Want to know more about Uruguay? Check all different factbooks for Uruguay below.