Politics of Panama
Conventional long form name: Republic of Panama
Capital City: Panama City
Type of Government: Constitutional democracy
Date of Independence: November 3, 1903
National holidays: Tuesday Jan 1 New Year's Day National holiday
Monday Jan 7- Day off for Martyr´s Day National holiday
Wednesday Jan 9 - Martyr´s Day National holiday
Saturday Feb 9- Carnival Observance
Sunday Feb 10- Carnival Observance
Monday Feb 11- Carnival Common Local holidays
Tuesday Feb 12- Carnival/Shrove Tuesday National holiday
Wednesday Feb 13- Carnival/Ash Wednesday Common Local holidays
Wednesday Mar 20- March equinox Season
Thursday Mar 28- Maundy Thursday Christian, Common Local holidays
Friday Mar 29- Good Friday National holiday, Christian
Saturday Mar 30- Holy Saturday National holiday, Christian
Sunday Mar 31- Easter Day National holiday, Christian
Wednesday May 1- Labor Day / May Day National holiday
Friday Jun 21- June Solstice Season
Thursday Aug 15- Foundation of Old Panama City Common Local holidays
Sunday Sep 22- September equinox Season
Sunday Nov 3- Independence Day National holiday
Monday Nov 4- Flag Day Common Local holidays
Tuesday Nov 5- Colon Day National holiday
Sunday Nov 10- Shout in Villa de los Santos National holiday
Monday Dec 2- Independence from Spain National holiday
Sunday Dec 8- Mother Day National holiday
Saturday Dec 21- December Solstice Season
Tuesday Dec 24- Christmas Eve Common Local holidays
Wednesday Dec 25- Christmas Day National holiday, Christian
Tuesday Dec 31- New Year's Eve Common Local holidays
Chief of State: President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal
Head of Government: President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal
Capital City: Panama City
Type of Government: Constitutional democracy
Date of Independence: November 3, 1903
National holidays: Tuesday Jan 1 New Year's Day National holiday
Monday Jan 7- Day off for Martyr´s Day National holiday
Wednesday Jan 9 - Martyr´s Day National holiday
Saturday Feb 9- Carnival Observance
Sunday Feb 10- Carnival Observance
Monday Feb 11- Carnival Common Local holidays
Tuesday Feb 12- Carnival/Shrove Tuesday National holiday
Wednesday Feb 13- Carnival/Ash Wednesday Common Local holidays
Wednesday Mar 20- March equinox Season
Thursday Mar 28- Maundy Thursday Christian, Common Local holidays
Friday Mar 29- Good Friday National holiday, Christian
Saturday Mar 30- Holy Saturday National holiday, Christian
Sunday Mar 31- Easter Day National holiday, Christian
Wednesday May 1- Labor Day / May Day National holiday
Friday Jun 21- June Solstice Season
Thursday Aug 15- Foundation of Old Panama City Common Local holidays
Sunday Sep 22- September equinox Season
Sunday Nov 3- Independence Day National holiday
Monday Nov 4- Flag Day Common Local holidays
Tuesday Nov 5- Colon Day National holiday
Sunday Nov 10- Shout in Villa de los Santos National holiday
Monday Dec 2- Independence from Spain National holiday
Sunday Dec 8- Mother Day National holiday
Saturday Dec 21- December Solstice Season
Tuesday Dec 24- Christmas Eve Common Local holidays
Wednesday Dec 25- Christmas Day National holiday, Christian
Tuesday Dec 31- New Year's Eve Common Local holidays
Chief of State: President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal
Head of Government: President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal
Executive Branch/Powers: Chief of State & Head of Government is President Ricardo Martinelli, Vice President is Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, cabinet appointed by president; president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms.
Legislative Branch/Powers: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms), elections last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
Judicial Branch/Powers: highest court is Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers), magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms, subordinate courts: appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory
Panama's Ambassador to the US: Mario E. Jaramillo
Location of Panama's Embassy: 2601 29th Street, NorthwestWashington, DC 20008
Location of Panama's Consolate in the US: Washington DC
Name of US Ambassador to Panama: Johnathan D. Farrar
Location of US Embassy to Panama: Cardenas, Panama
Panama's Representative to UN: H.E. Pablo Antonio Thalassinós
Legislative Branch/Powers: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms), elections last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
Judicial Branch/Powers: highest court is Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers), magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms, subordinate courts: appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory
Panama's Ambassador to the US: Mario E. Jaramillo
Location of Panama's Embassy: 2601 29th Street, NorthwestWashington, DC 20008
Location of Panama's Consolate in the US: Washington DC
Name of US Ambassador to Panama: Johnathan D. Farrar
Location of US Embassy to Panama: Cardenas, Panama
Panama's Representative to UN: H.E. Pablo Antonio Thalassinós
Symbolism of Panama Flag: The Panamanian flag's colors represent the two political parties of Panama, the Liberals (red) and the Conservatives (blue). The white symbolizes peace between them and the equal division of the colors states that they both govern the country at different times. The colors of the Panamanian flag also have alternative meanings. The blue represents the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea and red stands for the blood spilt for Panama's independence. The blue star represents the civic virtues of purity and honesty and the red star symbolizes the authority of the law. Together they represent loyalty and resilience.