Type of government: republic
Capital: Bucharest
Administrative divisions: 40 counties (judete, singular - judet)
and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor,
Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau,
Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj,
Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi,
Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,
Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence: 1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December
1947)
National holiday: National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)
Constitution: 8 December 1991
Legal system: former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is now based on the Constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 June 1990,
previously President of Provisional Council of National Unity since
23 December 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universal
suffrage; election last held 27 September 1992, with runoff between
top two candidates on 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - Ion ILIESCU 61.4%, Emil CONSTANTINESCU 38.6%
head of government: Prime Minister Nicolae VACAROIU (since NA
November 1992) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate (Senat): elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be
held NA 1996); results - PSDR 34.3%, CDR 18.2%, DP-FSN 12.6%, others
34.9%; seats - (143 total) PSDR 49, CDR 26, DP-FSN 18, PUNR 13, UDMR
12, PRM 6, PAC 6, PDAR 5, PSM 5, PL-93 2, other 1
House of Deputies (Adunarea Deputatilor): elections last held 27
September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - PSDR 34.0%, CDR
16.4%, DP-FSN 12.3%, others 37.3%; seats - (341 total) PSDR 116, CDR
56, DP-FSN 42, PUNR 29, UDMR 27, PL-93 19, PRM 15, PSM 13, PAC 5,
other 19