Conventional Long Form Name of Country -
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Capital City(ies) - Caracas Type of Government - Federal Republic Date of Independence - July 5, 1811 National Holiday(s) - Independence Day - July 5 Chief of State - President Hugo Chavez Frias Head of Government - President Hugo Chavez Frias Description of Executive Branch/Powers - Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president. Elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term ; election last held on 7 October 2012 Description of Legislative Branch/Powers - Unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats; members elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela) Description of Judicial Branch/Powers - Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (32 magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term) Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal Name of their Ambassador in the U.S. - Ambassador (vacant) Location of their embassy in the U.S - 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Location(s) of their consulate(s) in the U.S. - 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 Name of U.S. Ambassador to them - Ambassador (Vacant) Location of U.S. embassy there - Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080 Location(s) of U.S. consulate(s) there - Name of their representative to U.N. - Description of the Symbolism of Flag - The flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; yellow is interpreted as standing for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence; the seven stars on the original flag represented the seven provinces in Venezuela that united in the war of independence; in 2006, President Hugo Chavez ordered an eighth star added to the star arc - a decision that sparked much controversy - to conform with the flag proclaimed by Simon Bolivar in 1827 and to represent the province of Guayana. National Symbol - Troupial (Bird) |