Nicaragua is a constitutional democracy with executive, legislative, judicial, and electoral branches of government. The Constitutional democracy is Surinames political party. ...

In 1995, the executive and legislative branches negotiated a reform of the 1987 Sandinista constitution which gave extensive new powers and independence to the National Assembly, including permitting the Assembly to override a presidential veto with a simple majority vote and eliminating the president's ability to pocket veto a bill. Both the president and the members of the unicameral National Assembly are elected to concurrent five-year terms. The National Assembly consists of 90 deputies elected from party lists drawn at the department and national level, plus the outgoing president and the runner-up in the presidential race, for a total of 92. In the 2001 elections, the PLC and its allies won 52 seats, the FSLN won 37 seats, and the Conservative Party 1 seat. In addition, ex-president Arnoldo Alemán assumed a seat, as did runner-up Daniel Ortega. During the 2002 legislative term, Alemán would have served as President of the National Assembly, however, he and other members of his family were charged with corruption in December 2002, and on 7 December 2003 he was sentenced to a 20-year prison term for a string of crimes including money laundering, embezzlement and corruption. The current president is Enrique Bolaños, sworn in on 10 January 2002. Sandinista! is also the name of a popular music album by The Clash. ... The National Assembly (Spanish: Asamblea Nacional) is the legislative branch of the government of Nicaragua. ... The word veto comes from Latin and literally means I forbid. ... List of Presidents of Nicaragua list may not be complete José Núñez 1839 Evaristo Rocha 1839 Patricio Rivas 1839 Joaquín del Cosío 1839 Hilario Ulloa 1839 Tomás Valladares 1839-1840 Patricio Rivas 1840-1841 Pablo Buitrago 1841-1843 Juan de Dios Orozco 1843 Manuel Pérez... This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Nicaraguan political parties | Liberal parties ... Sandinista! is also the name of a popular music album by The Clash. ... President Arnoldo Alemán José Arnoldo Alemán Lacayo was born on 23 January 1946, in Managua to an official in the government of Anastasio Somoza García. ... Daniel Ortega Saavedra (born 11 November 1945) was the president of Nicaragua from 1985 to 1990. ... Money laundering is the practice of engaging in financial transactions in order to conceal the identity, source and destination of the money in question. ... President Enrique Bolaños Geyer Enrique José Bolaños Geyer (born on May 13, 1928) is the President of Nicaragua. ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ...

The Supreme Court supervises the functioning of the still largely ineffective and overburdened judicial system. As part of the 1995 constitutional reforms, the independence of the Supreme Court was strengthened by increasing the number of magistrates from 9 to 12. In 2000, the number or Supreme Court Justices was increased to 16. Supreme Court justices are nominated by the political parties and elected to 5-year terms by the National Assembly.

Led by a council of seven magistrates, the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) is the co-equal branch of government responsible for organizing and conducting elections, plebiscites, and referendums. The magistrates and their alternates are elected to 5-year terms by the National Assembly. Constitutional changes in 2000 expanded the number of CSE magistrates from five to seven and gave the PLC and the FSLN a freer hand to name party activists to the council, prompting allegations that both parties were politicizing electoral institutions and processes and excluding smaller political parties.

Freedom of speech is a right guaranteed by the Nicaraguan constitution and vigorously exercised by its people. Diverse viewpoints are freely and openly discussed in the media and in academia. There is no state censorship in Nicaragua. Other constitutional freedoms include peaceful assembly and association, freedom of religion, and freedom of movement within the country, as well as foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation. The government also permits domestic and international human rights monitors to operate freely in Nicaragua. The constitution prohibits discrimination based on birth, nationality, political belief, race, gender, language, religion, opinion, national origin, economic or social condition. However, homosexuality is still criminalized. All public and private sector workers, except the military and the police, are entitled to form and join unions of their own choosing, and they exercise this right extensively. Nearly half of Nicaragua's work force, including agricultural workers, is unionized. Workers have the right to strike. Collective bargaining is becoming more common in the private sector. This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Collective agreement is a labour contract between an employer and one or more unions. ...

Quick Facts

• Country name
  • Conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua.
  • Conventional short form: Nicaragua.
  • Local long form: República de Nicaragua.
  • Local short form: Nicaragua.

• Government type: Republic.
• Capital: Managua.

• Administrative divisions (see Departments of Nicaragua)
  • 15 departments : Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Estelí, Granada, Jinotega, León, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rivas, Río San Juan
  • 2 autonomous regions : Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte and Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur

• Independence : 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
• National holiday : Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
• Constitution : 9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000.
• Legal system : Civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts.
• Suffrage : Universal suffrage at 16 years of age

Nicaragua is a unitary republic. ... Boaco is a department in Nicaragua. ... Carazo is a department in Nicaragua. ... Chinandega is a department in Nicaragua on the border with Honduras. ... Chontales is a department in Nicaragua. ... Estelí is a department in Nicaragua. ... Granada is a department in Nicaragua. ... Jinotega is a department in Nicaragua. ... León is a department in Nicaragua. ... Madriz is a department in Nicaragua. ... Managua is a department in Nicaragua. ... Masaya is a department in Nicaragua. ... Matagalpa is a department in Nicaragua. ... Nueva Segovia is a department in Nicaragua. ... Department Rivas, Republic of Nicaragua, the departments capital is the city of Rivas. ... Río San Juan is a department in Nicaragua. ... Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte, sometimes shortened to RAAN, is an autonomous region in Nicaragua. ... Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur, sometimes shortened to RAAS, is an autonomous region in Nicaragua. ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Executive branch

The president is both head of state and head of government.

Chief of state: President Enrique Bolaños (10 January 2002); Vice President José Rizo Castellón. List of Presidents of Nicaragua list may not be complete José Núñez 1839 Evaristo Rocha 1839 Patricio Rivas 1839 Joaquín del Cosío 1839 Hilario Ulloa 1839 Tomás Valladares 1839-1840 Patricio Rivas 1840-1841 Pablo Buitrago 1841-1843 Juan de Dios Orozco 1843 Manuel Pérez... President Enrique Bolaños Geyer Enrique José Bolaños Geyer (born on May 13, 1928) is the President of Nicaragua. ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ...

Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president.

Elections

The president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held October 2001.

Election results (1996)

• Arnoldo ALEMÁN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance - ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%
• Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%
• Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%
• Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%
• Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%
• other (18 other candidates) 4.33%

President Arnoldo Alemán José Arnoldo Alemán Lacayo was born on 23 January 1946, in Managua to an official in the government of Anastasio Somoza García. ... Daniel Ortega Saavedra (born 11 November 1945) was the president of Nicaragua from 1985 to 1990. ...

Election results (2001)

• Enrique BOLAÑOS Geyer (PLC) elected president - 56.3%, Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president
• Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%
• Alberto SABORIO (PCN) 1.4%;

President Enrique Bolaños Geyer Enrique José Bolaños Geyer (born on May 13, 1928) is the President of Nicaragua. ... Daniel Ortega Saavedra (born 11 November 1945) was the president of Nicaragua from 1985 to 1990. ...

Legislative branch

Unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional). 92 seats; 90 members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms, with both the previous President and the second-plae finisher in the last election addionally given seats. The National Assembly (Spanish: Asamblea Nacional) is the legislative branch of the government of Nicaragua. ...

Election results (1996)

Percent of vote and seats in National Assembly by party -

• Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, 42 seats
• FSLN 36.55%, 36 seats
• PCCN 3.73%, 4 seats
• PCN 2.12%, 3 seats
• MRS 1.33%, 1 seat
• Others : 11.24%, seats won by PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1

Election results (2001)

Seats in National Assembly by party -

• Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PCCN, PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 52 seats
• FSLN 37 seats
• PCN 1 seat

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 16 judges elected for seven-year terms by the National Assembly.

Political parties and leaders

Main article: List of political parties in Nicaragua

• AU : Unity Alliance [Alejandro SERRANO]
• FSLN : Sandinista National Liberation Front Daniel Ortega Saavedra
• MAC : Conservative Action Movement [Hernaldo ZUNIGA]
• MDN : Nicaraguan Democratic Movement [Alfredo GUZMAN]
• MRS : Sandinista Renovation Movement [Sergio RAMIREZ]
• MUR : Movement for Revolutionary Unity [leader NA]
• PALI : Neoliberal Party [Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel]
• PCCN : Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Road [Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]
• PCN : Conservative Party of Nicaragua [Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha]
• PIAC : Central American Integrationist Party [leader NA]
• PLC : Constitutional Liberal Party [Jose RIZO Castellon]
• PLI : Independent Liberal Party [Virgilio GODOY]
• PLIUN : Independent Liberal Party for National Unity [Carlos GUERRA Gallardo]
• PLN : Nationalist Liberal Party [Enrique SANCHEZ Herdocia]
• PNC : Conservative National Party [Adolfo CALERO, Noel VIDAURRE]
• PND : National Democratic Party [Alfredo CESAR Aguirre]
• PRN : Nicaraguan Resistance Party [Fabio GADEA]
• PRONAL : National Project [Antonio LACAYO Oyanguren]
• PSC : Social Christian Party [Erick RAMIREZ]
• PSD : Social Democratic Party [Adolfo JARQUIN]
• PUCA : Central American Unionist Party [Blanca ROJAS Echaverry]
• UNO-96 Alliance : [Alfredo CESAR Aguirre]

The politcal alignment and blocs are roughly : Political parties in Nicaragua lists political parties in Nicaragua. ... The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view. ... Ortega addresses the UN General Assembly Daniel Ortega Saavedra (born 11 November 1945) was President of Nicaragua from 1985 to 1990, during the Sandinista government, and is currently the leader of the Sandinista party. ... The Conservative Party of Nicaragua (Partido Conservador de Nicaragua) is a political party in Nicaragua. ... This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Nicaraguan political parties | Liberal parties ...

• left - FSLN
• center left - MRS, PSD, PSC, MUR, PIAC, AU, PCN, PND, PUCA, UNO-96 Alliance, and MDN
• center right - PALI, PRN, PLI, PRONAL, and MAC
• right - PCCN, PLC, PLIUN, PNC, and PLN

Political pressure groups and leaders

• National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions, including
  • Farm Workers Association or ATC
  • Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD
  • Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO
  • National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN
  • National Union of Employees or UNE
  • National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG

• National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions, including
  • Sandinista Workers Central or CST
  • Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN

• Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions, including
  • Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A
  • Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS
  • Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I
  • Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS

• Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union

• Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business groups

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Banco Centralamericano de Integración Economico or BCIE was established in 1960 to promote economic integration and development of nations in Central America. ... CACM is an acronym that may stand for: California Association of Community Managers Inc. ... The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC or ECLAC) was established in 1948 (then as the UN Economic Commission for Latin America) to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. ... FAO emblem With its headquarters in Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living; to improve the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food and agricultural products; to promote rural development; and... The Group of 77 at the United Nations is a loose coalition of developing nations, designed to promote its members collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations. ... Inter-American Development Bank Inter-American Defense Board InterActive Databank This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... IAEA The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established as an autonomous organization on July 29, 1957, seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. ... The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means of financing states. ... The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, develops the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... Claiming 157 million members in 225 affiliated organisations in 148 countries and territories, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) came into being on December 7, 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). ... ICRM may refer to: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Institute of Certified Records Managers International Committee for Radionuclide Metrology International Chemometrics Research Meeting This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Ida can mean the following: Ida of Bernicia, King of a British state. ... The International Fund for Agricultural Development is an agency of the United Nations. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) is an international humanitarian organisation, often better known as the Red Cross or the Red Crescent. ... For other meanings of the ILO abbreviation, see ILO (disambiguation). ... The flag of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring foreign exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... The three-letter abbreviation IMO may have several meanings, depending on context: In My Opinion (USENET and internet chat slang; see also IMHO) International Maritime Organization International Mathematical Olympiad International Meteor Organization International money order Irish Medical Organisation (a labor union) Imo (only first letter in capitals) may also refer... Intelsat is the worlds largest commercial satellite communications services provider. ... Interpol logo Interpol, more correctly the International Criminal Police Organization, was created in 1923 to assist international criminal police co-operation. ... Alternative meanings at IOC (disambiguation) The International Olympic Committee is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece, and organize this sports event every four years. ... IOM may refer to Institute of Medicine Iowa, Ohio, Michagin, soybean origin Isle of Man International Organization for Migration This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Logo of the International Organization for Standardization The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from national standards bodies. ... This article is about the location. ... The Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (the Latin American Integration Association; known as ALADI or, occasionally, by the English acronym LAIA) is a Latin American trade integration association, based in Montevideo. ... NAM stands for: National Association of Manufacturers Non-Aligned Movement Network Analysis Module National Assembly Member, a member of the National Assembly of The Gambia. ... OAS can stand for: Organization of American States Organisation de larmée secrète This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... OPANAL (which stands for Organismo para la Proscripción de las Armas Nucleares en la América Latina y el Caribe) is an international organization which promotes nuclear disarmament. ... The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an agency of the United Nations. ... PCA may stand for: Pacific Coast Academy (Zoey 101) Parti Communiste Algérien (Algerian Communist Party) Partido Comunista de Andalucía (Communist Party of Andalusia) Partido Comunista de Aragón (Communist Party of Aragon) Partido Comunista de la Argentina (Communist Party of Argentina) Pacific Coast Academy, the fictional school in... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that describes itself as a global association of governments facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body, UNCTAD is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. ... UNESCO logo The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. ... United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is an agency of the United Nations with the mission of helping countries pursue sustainable industrial development, it is a specialist in industrial affairs. ... The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ... WCL is an initialism for World Confederation of Labour. ... Who can refer to: WHO, World Health Organization The Who, a British rock band The Guess Who, a Canadian rock band who (pronoun), an English language interrogative pronoun. ... The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations, and has as its core objectives the promotion of creative intellectual activity and the facilitation of the transfer of technology related to intellectual property to the developing countries in order to accelerate economic, social... The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ... The World Tourism Organization (WTO) is a UN agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. ... For other uses of the initials WTO, see WTO (disambiguation). ...

Flag description

Main article: Flag of Nicaragua

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. Flag ratio: 3:5 The flag of Nicaragua was adopted on August 27, 1971. ...

See also

• Nicaragua
• List of Presidents of Nicaragua
• Elections in Nicaragua