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 Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since 29 November
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Radu VASILE (since 17 April 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 3 November 1996, with runoff between the top two
candidates held 17 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November/December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote—Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion
ILIESCU 45.6%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of
the Senate or Senat (143 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve
four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor
(343 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a
proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate—last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA
2000); Chamber of Deputies—last held 3 November 1996 (next to be
held NA 2000)
election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—CDR 30.7%, PDSR
23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%;
seats by party—CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7;
Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote by party—CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%,
USD 12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by
party—CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, ethnic
minorities 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed
by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of
Magistrates
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or PD [Petre DIACONESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM note: to increase their voting strength several of the above-mentioned parties united under umbrella organizations: PNTCD, PNL, and PNL-CD form the bulk of the Democratic Convention or CDR other small parties failed to gain representation in the most recent election
Political pressure groups and leaders: various human rights and
professional associations
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mircea Dan GEOANA chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James C. ROSAPEPE embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) branch office: Cluj-Napoca