Politics
COUNTRY'S NAME
Republic of Costa Rica
CAPITAL CITY
San Jose
Type of Government
democratic republic
DATE OF INDEPENDENCE
15 September 1821
National Holidays
Independence Day, 15 September
CHIEF OF STATE
President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda
Head of Government
President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda
Executive Branch
President and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 7 February 2010. The president may then select their cabinet memebers and have control as the final say in governmental situations.
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for renewable eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
SUFFRAGE
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Their US Ambassador
Ambassador Shanon Muni FIGUERES Boggs
Their US Embassy
2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Their Consulates
Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico).
Our Ambassador
Ambassador Anne Slaughter ANDREW
U.S. EMBASSY (THERE)
Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
Our Consulates
None
UN REPRESENTATIVE
Eduardo Ulibarri
THEIR FLAG
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people.
National Symbols
clay-colored robin known as Yiguirro.
Republic of Costa Rica
CAPITAL CITY
San Jose
Type of Government
democratic republic
DATE OF INDEPENDENCE
15 September 1821
National Holidays
Independence Day, 15 September
CHIEF OF STATE
President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda
Head of Government
President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda
Executive Branch
President and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 7 February 2010. The president may then select their cabinet memebers and have control as the final say in governmental situations.
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for renewable eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
SUFFRAGE
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Their US Ambassador
Ambassador Shanon Muni FIGUERES Boggs
Their US Embassy
2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Their Consulates
Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico).
Our Ambassador
Ambassador Anne Slaughter ANDREW
U.S. EMBASSY (THERE)
Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
Our Consulates
None
UN REPRESENTATIVE
Eduardo Ulibarri
THEIR FLAG
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people.
National Symbols
clay-colored robin known as Yiguirro.