Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Honduras

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Honduras.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: democratic constitutional republic
Administrative Divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Legal System: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Citizenship: Citizenship by birth: Yes Citizenship by descent only: Yes Dual citizenship recognized: Yes Residency requirement for naturalization: 1 to 3 years
Executive Branch: chief of state: President Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice President Salvador NASRALLA (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice President Salvador NASRALLA (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025) election results: Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (LIBRE) elected president - 51.1%, Nasry ASFURA (PNH) 36.9%, Yani ROSENTHAL (PL) 10.0%, other 2.0%
Legislative Branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members are elected proportionally to the number of votes their party's presidential candidate receives to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 62, PN 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU 2
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are elected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)
Political Parties: Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Saul ESCOBAR Andrade]; Democratic Unification Party or PUD [Matias FUNES]; Liberal Party or PL [Patricia RODAS]; National Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Olban F. VALLADARES]; National Party of Honduras or PN [Gilberto GOLDSTEIN]
Head of State: President Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales
Head of Government: President Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009)
Election Results: Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales elected president - 49.8%, Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa 46.1%, other 4.1%
Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended 1995
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
International Organization Participation: BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: chief of mission: Ambassador Norman GARCIA Paz chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco honorary consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, Jacksonville
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. FORD embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 236-9320 FAX: [504] 236-9037

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital
Location: 14 06 N, 87 13 W
Time Difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
History: hile most sources agree that Tegucigalpa is of Nahuatl derivation, there is no consensus on its original meaning

Embassy and Diplomatic Representation

Embassy location and contact details.

U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa Avenida La Paz in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Telephone: 011-504-2236-9320 or 011-504-2238-5114 Emergency after-hours telephone: 011-504-2236-8497 American Citizens Services Unit Fax: 011-504-2238-4357 American Citizens Services Unit Office hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Consular Section is closed the first Tuesday of every month. To provide better customer service and reduce wait times, the Consular Section in Tegucigalpa uses an online appointment system for passport renewals for minors (under age 16), first-time passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Appointments are required to submit your application for these services. You can find more information, including how to schedule an appointment, at the U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen Services website. We accept walk-ins for adult passport renewals, additional passport pages, notaries and general inquiries only from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. In case of an emergency involving a U.S. citizens, please call the American Citizen Services unit at 011-504-2238-5114 extension 4400. Consular Agency in San Pedro Sula Banco Atlantida Building (across from Central Park) – 11th Floor San Pedro Sula, Honduras Telephone: 011-504-2558-1580 Office hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Consular Agent in San Pedro Sula assists the U.S. Embassy in protecting the interests of U.S. citizens in Honduras. The Consular Agent may execute notarials and accept applications for passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. The Consular Agent may also assist U.S. citizens with emergency situations such as arrests and deaths in Honduras. The Consular Agent does not provide visa information or services of any kind.

Military

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Military Branches: Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH)
Service Age and Obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service; no conscription

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band. Blue stands for the skies and brotherhood; the white for the desire for peace and purity of thoughts.
Date of Adoption: 18 January 1949

National Anthem

Anthem Lyrics: CHORUS: Tu bandera, tu bandera Es un lampo de cielo Por un bloque, por un bloque De nieve cruzado; Y se ven en su fondo sagrado Cinco estrellas de pálido azul; En tu emblema que mar rumoroso Con sus ondas bravías escuda, De un volcán, de un volcán Tras la cima desnuda Hay un astro, hay un astro De nítida luz. India, virgen y hermosa dormías De tus mares al canto sonoro, Cuando echada en tus cuencas de oro El audaz navegante te halló; Y al mirar tu belleza extasiado Al influjo ideal de tu encanto, La orla azul de tu espléndido manto Con su beso de amor consagró. CHORUS De un país donde el sol se levanta, Mas allá del Atlante azulado, Aquel hombre que te había soñado Y en tu busca a la mar se lanzó. Cuando erguiste la pálida frente, En la viva ansiedad de tu anhelo, Bajo el dombo gentil de tu cielo Ya flotaba un extraño pendón. CHORUS Era inutil que el indio tu amado Se aprestara a la lucha con ira, Porque envuelto en su sangre Lempira, En la noche profunda se hundió; Y de la épica hazaña, en memoria, La leyenda tan sólo ha guardado De un sepulcro el lugar ignorado Y el severo perfil de un peñón. CHORUS Por tres siglos tus hijos oyeron El mandato imperioso del amo; Por tres siglos tu inútil reclamo En la atmosfera azul se perdió; Pero un día gloria tu oído Percibió, poderoso y distante, Que allá lejos, por sobre el Atlante, Indignado rugía un León. CHORUS Era Francia, la libre, la heroica, Que en su sueño de siglos dormida Despertaba iracunda a la vida Al reclamo viril de Dantón: Era Francia, que enviaba a la muerte La cabeza del Rey consagrado, Y que alzaba soberbia a su lado, El Altar de la Diosa razón. CHORUS Tú también, ¡oh mi patria!, te alzaste De tu sueño servil y profundo; Tú también enseñastes al mundo Destrozado el infame eslabón. Y en tu suelo bendito, tras la alta Cabellera de monte salvaje, Como un ave de negro plumaje, La colonia fugaz se perdió CHORUS Por guardar ese emblema divino, Marcharemos Oh Patria a la muerte, Generosa será nuestra suerte, Si morimos pensando en tu amor. Defendiendo tu santa bandera Y en tus pliegues gloriosos cubiertos, Serán muchos, Oh Honduras tus muertos, Pero todos caerán con honor. CHORUS
Anthem Lyrics (English): As your standard, as your standard serves a strip of cloudless azure, Which in twain is cut, Which in twain is cut by a band that snows besprinkle; In whose sacred abysses there twinkle Five pale stars lit with softest rays of blue. And in your shield, that a strident sea is guarding With the bulwark of its savage billows' might, A volcano stands, a volcano stands, From whose lonely summit's height Comes the beacon clear, Comes the beacon clear, Of a star that flashes there. In defense of our glorious emblem We are ready, my Country, to perish, For future ages their fame will ever cherish Who in their dying hour are thinking of your love. In the defense of your holy banner fallen, Their lifeless forms in its hallowed folds enshrouded. Not few, blessed Honduras, shall be your proud dead, But they all in honour's cause will die.
Anthem History: "A Honduras" ("To Honduras") is a song that expresses the great respect and love that Hondurans feel for their fatherland. In the years following its independence, Honduras lacked a national anthem. In its place, "La Granadera," a beautiful march commemorating the battles, victories, and sacrifices of General Morazán, was played at civic events and official ceremonies. At school festivals people sang hymns by Honduran poets, although none in particular became popular. In 1904, the President of the Republic, General Manuel Bonilla, gave several writers the task of writing hymns from which an anthem would be chosen. The poem of Augusto C. Coello, entitled A Honduras (To Honduras) was selected, and given to the director of the martial band, don Carlos Hartling, to be set to music. In 1915, "A Honduras" (sometimes called "Tu Bandera" -- "Your Flag") was formally declared by the Honduran government as the country's official anthem.

Other National Symbols

National Flower
Orchid (Brassavola digbiana)
The rose was the national flower of Honduras from 1946-1969.
National Tree
pine
Adopted: May 14, 1926
National Animal
white tailed deer
Adopted: June 28, 1993
This mammal reaches an average weight of 35-40 kilograms and reaches a height of 73 centimeters and 140 centimeter long including the tail, its diet is vegetarian and is based on herbs, leaves, fruits and other wild vegetation. The males of the species possess antlers that fall off every year, they have a very sensitive sense of smell and are great swimmers. Of the two species found in Honduras, the white tailed deer is the largest, and its two biggest natural enemies include the puma and the jaguar, as well as humans. This deer, when it raises its unique tail, runs and gives the signal of danger to the rest of the pack.

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