Government of Ecuador
Long Conventional Name
Republic of Ecuador
Short Conventional Name
Ecuador
Long Local Name
Republica del Ecuador
Short Local Name
Ecuador
Government Type
Republic
Capital City
Quito
Administrative Divisions
22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe.
Independence Day
Friday, 24th May 1822
Constitutional History
10 August 1998
Legal System
Based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters.
Executive Branch
Chief of State
President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007)
Head of Government
President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007)
Cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections
The president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 15 October 2006 with a runoff election on 26 November 2006 (next to be held in October 2010)
Legislative Branch
Unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms).
Judical Branch
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004, however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court via a simple-majority resolution).
Flag Description
Three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms.
