Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A
PPENDIX
1
BASIC FACTS ABOUT
ARGENTINA
Official Name
La República Argentina
Government
Under the Constitution of 1853, Argentina is a federal republic with
three branches of government, of which the presidency (executive) pre-
dominates. The president serves a four-year term and may be reelected
for a consecutive term. The legislature is made up of the 257-member
Chamber of Deputies and the 72-member Senate. Deputies serve four-
year terms on a staggered basis so that half the chamber is elected every
two years. Each state has three senators, who serve six-year terms. One-
third of the Senate is elected every two years. The judiciary traditionally
is the weakest branch of government. Federal judges are appointed by
a Council of Magistrates, and the Senate approves all appointees to the
Supreme Court by a two-thirds vote.
The two main parties are the Justicialista Party (the Peronists), the
principal vote-getter for the last 70 years. The old Radical Party (offi-
cially known as the Unión Cívica Radical) has been prone to factional
infighting since the 1920s. Elections frequently feature several candi-
dates, and runoff elections follow in which the top two vote-getters
compete against one another.
Political Divisions
Subdivisions
The republic consists of 23 provinces and one autonomous federal district.
