Government and Politics of Ecuador

Government Type

republic

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

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Rafael Correa (since 15 January 2007); ; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; former President Alfredo PALACIO was removed from office by national election effective 15 January 2007 head of government: President Rafael Correa (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 (no immediate reelection); election last held in October 2006.

Legislative Branch

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held October 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSC 25, ID 16, PRE 15, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD 5, DP 4, PS-FA 3, independents 7; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

Judicial 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)

Political Parties

Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM]; Democratic Left or ID [Guillermo LANDAZURI]; National Action Institutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Movement [Gilberto TALAHUA]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan Manuel FUERTES]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Leon FEBRES CORDERO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Victor GRANDA]

Head of State

President Rafael CORREA Delgado

Head of Government

President Rafael CORREA Delgado

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Elections

the president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for another consecutive term; election last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013)

Election Results

President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 52%; Lucio GUTIERREZ 28.2%; Alvaro NOBOA 11.4%; other 8.4%

Constitution

10-Aug-98

Independence

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

International Organization Participation

CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200 FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Jersey City (New Jersey), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Linda J. JEWELL embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039 telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890 FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Capital City

Quito

Location

0 13 S, 78 30 W

Time Difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)

History

named after the Quitu, a Pre-Columbian indigenous people credited with founding the city; the name is also a combination of two Tsafiki words: quitso (meaning "center" or "half") + to or tu ("the world"); the combination roughly translates as "center of the world" and reflects the fact that native peoples recognized that at the two annual equinoxes, the overhead sun in that area (only about 20 km (12 mi) north of the equator) did not display any shade and thus must be in the middle of the world

The U.S. Embassy in Quito For visitors: Ave. Avigiras E12-170 y Ave. Eloy Alfaro; Quito, Ecuador For local mail and package delivery: Ave. Guayacanes N52-205 y Ave. Avigiras; Quito, Ecuador Telephone during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.): (011) 593-2-398-5000 Emergency after-hours telephone: (011) 593-2-398-5000 Facsimile: (011) 593-2-398-5100 The American Citizen Services unit in Quito uses an online appointment system for passport services, notary services, and reports of birth abroad. For detailed information or to make an appointment, visit the Embassy’s American Citizen Services website. Walk-in service for emergencies, passport pick-up, or reports of death are available from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil For visitors, local mail, and packages: 9 de Octubre y Garcia Moreno; Guayaquil, Ecuador Telephone during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.): (011) 593-4-232-3570 Emergency after-hours telephone: (011) 593-4-232-1152 Facsimile: (011) 593-4-232-0904 The Galápagos Islands fall within the consular district of the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil. The American Citizen Services unit in Guayaquil uses an online appointment system for passport services, notary services, and reports of birth abroad. For detailed information about services or to make an appointment, visit the Consulate’s American Citizen Services website. Walk-in service for those with questions regarding Social Security is available from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Monday through Thursday. All other walk-in service is available for emergencies only.

Military Branches

Ecuadorian Armed Forces: Ecuadorian Land Force (Fuerza Terrestre Ecuatoriana, FTE), Ecuadorian Navy (Fuerza Naval del Ecuador (FNE), includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE)

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for selective conscript military service; conscription has been suspended; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; Air Force 18-22 years of age, Ecadorian birth requirement; 1-year service obligation