Government of Azores
Long Conventional Name
Portuguese Republic
Short Conventional Name
Portugal
Long Local Name
Republica Portuguesa
Short Local Name
Portugal
Government Type
Parliamentary Democracy
Capital City
Sao Miguel Island and Ponta Delgada
Administrative Divisions
18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence Day
Tuesday, 5th October 1920
Constitutional History
Adopted 2 April 1976; effective 25 April 1976; revised many times
Legal System
Based on civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State
President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)
Head of Government
Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa (since 12 March 2005)
Cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections
President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president.
Legislative Branch
Unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Judical Branch
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)
Flag Description
Two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line
