Central America and the Caribbean > Panama > Government

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Administrative divisions 11 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Comarca Kuna Yala, Comarca Ngobe-Bugle, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*(Kuna Yala), and Veraguas
Ambassadors from Finland > Current Finnish Ambassadors > Ambassador	Marja Luoto
Ambassadors from Israel > Current Israeli Ambassadors > Embassy > Website	Panama
Ambassadors from Israel > Current Israeli Ambassadors > Israeli Ambassador	Menashe Baron
Buenos Aires Convention > Berne	1996-06-08
Buenos Aires Convention > Buenos_Aires_Convention	1913-11-25
Buenos Aires Convention > UCC	1962-10-17
Capital city	Panama
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	8 58 N, 79 32 W
Capital city > Name	Panama
Capital city > Time difference UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004
Copyright > Reference	Art. 42,
Corruption	3.5		[65th of 160]
countries' copyright length > Usual term of copyright protection	50 pma
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission Ambassador William A. EATON
Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City
Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX	[507] 317-5568
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone	[507] 207-7000
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Arias
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX	[1] (202) 483-8416
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone	[1] (202) 483-1407
Elections > Head of state	Direct election
embassies and high commissions in Ottawa > Address	130 Albert St, Suite 300
embassies and high commissions in Ottawa > Neighbourhood Downtown
Executive branch > A note government coalition - PA, MOLIRENA, Democratic Change, MORENA, PLN, PS
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch > Chief of state President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Executive branch > Election results Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9%
Executive branch > Elections president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (not eligible for immediate reelection; president and vice presidents must sit out two additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held on 3 May 2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will have only one vice president
Executive branch > Head of government President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004)
Executive branch > Note government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party), PP (Popular Party)
Flag description 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
Flag modification	20		[78th of 197]
Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment	June 12, 1996
Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment	February 15, 1984
Foreign relations of Western Sahara > States recognizing the SADR > Date of recognition	June 23, 1978
General government final consumption expenditure > annual % growth	-2 %		[106th of 147]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant 2000 US$	1,812,723,000 constant 2000 US$		[64th of 145]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant 2000 US$ (per capita)	560.954 constant 2000 US$ per c		[41st of 146]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant LCU	1597500000
General government final consumption expenditure > current LCU	1772521000
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$	1,772,521,000 $		[80th of 169]
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$ (per $ GDP)	0.115 $ per $1 of GDP		[102nd of 184]
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$ (per capita)	548.513 $ per capita		[58th of 184]
Government type	constitutional democracy
Heads of Missions from the United Kingdom	Richard Austen
Heads of Missions from the United Kingdom > Resident Heads of Missions > Type	Embassy
Independence 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
Independence Day > Date	November 28
International organization participation BCIE, CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of appeal
Legal origin French
Legal system based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in 2009, the number of seats will change to 71
Legislative branch > A note legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula
Legislative branch > Election results percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 41, PA 17, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN 3, PP 1
Legislative branch > Elections last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009)
Legislative branch > Note legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula
Management time dealing with officials > % of management time	10.22 %		[9th of 38]
National holiday Independence Day, 3 November
Policy uncertainty > % of managers surveyed ranking this as a major business constraint	4.2 %		[12th of 38]
political parties > Multi party	•
Political parties and leaders Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hugo GUIRAUD]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Gisela CHUNG]; Panamenista Party or PA [Juan Carlos VARELA] (formerly the Arnulfista Party); Patriotic Union Party or PU (combination of the Liberal National Party or PLN and the Solidarity Party or PS)[Jose Raul MULINO and Anibal GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP [Rene ORILLAC] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
Political pressure groups and leaders Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP; National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP
Procedures to build a warehouse > number	22		[33rd of 168]
Procedures to build a warehouse > number (per capita)	6.808 per 1 million people		[45th of 170]
Procedures to enforce a contract > number	45		[35th of 170]
Procedures to enforce a contract > number (per capita)	13.925 per 1 million people		[41st of 171]
Procedures to register property > number	7		[56th of 167]
Procedures to register property > number (per capita)	2,166.175 per 1 billion people		[44th of 167]
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament > %	16.7 %		[73rd of 174]
Start-up procedures to register a business > number	7		[128th of 171]
Start-up procedures to register a business > number (per capita)	2.166 per 1 million people		[60th of 171]
Status democracy
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Time required to build a warehouse > days	121 days		[138th of 168]
Time required to enforce a contract > days	686 days		[37th of 171]
Time required to register property > days	44 days		[96th of 167]
Time required to start a business > days	19 days		[134th of 171]
Time to prepare and pay taxes > hours	560 hours		[24th of 169]
Time to resolve insolvency > years	2.5 years		[96th of 151]
Total businesses registered > number	41,119		[49th of 71]
Total businesses registered > number (per capita)	14.211 per 1 million people		[48th of 83]
Trademarks, nonresidents	9,324		[14th of 99]
Trademarks, nonresidents (per capita)	3.161 per 1 million people		[11th of 146]
Trademarks, residents	3,899		[34th of 98]
Trademarks, residents (per capita)	1,321.718 per 1 million people		[12th of 142]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama
United Nations mission http://www.1upinfo.com/country-guide-study/panama/panama109.html

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