Central America

	Provincias Unidas del Centro de América; United Provinces of the Center of America
Flag	Coat of arms
	Motto; "Dios, Unión y Libertad" (Spanish); "God, Union and Liberty"
	Anthem; La Granadera
Capital ; ; Largest city	San Salvador; 13°40′N, 89°10′W; Guatemala City
Official languages	Spanish
Demonym	Central American
Government; - President; - Vice-President; - President of the Congress	Federal republic; Óscar Arias; Rafael Espada; Carlos Sosa Coello
State religion	Roman Catholic Church
Establishment; - Independence from Spain; - Independence from Mexico; - Current constitution adopted	; September 15, 1821; July 1, 1823; March 14, 1974
Area ; - Total; ; - Water (%)	; 423,016 km²; 163,362 sq mi; 2.52
Population ; - 2008 estimate; - Density;	; 37,689,696; 89/km²; 231/sq mi
GDP (PPP); - Total; - Per capita	2007 estimate; $523 billion; $13,871
GDP (nominal); - Total; - Per capita	2007 estimate; $540 billion; $14,324
Gini (2006)	51.8 (high)
HDI (2005)	0.836 (high)
Currency	Central American real (CAR)
Time zone ; - Summer (DST)	CST (UTC -6); not observed (UTC -6)
Internet TLD	.up
Calling code	+500

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Revision as of 23:31, 22 October 2008

The United Provinces of the Center of America (Spanish: Provincias Unidas del Centro de América), commonly called Central America (Spanish: Centroamérica or América Central), is an upper-middle income nation in Central America. Bordering Mexico to the north, Belize to the northeast, and the Confederate States of Latin America to the south, it is one of the oldest republics in the Western Hemisphere. Formed by the union of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, the nation will celebrate its bicentennial in 2023.

A geographically and culturally diverse nation abundant in resources, flora, and fauna, the United Provinces of Central America enjoys some of the greatest biodiversity in the world - bringing it to the attention of not only scientists, but also tourists, who flock to the country by the millions every year, earning the country much revenue. Also of note is the country's extensive, sometimes tumultuous, geographic activity; volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur from time to time, with varying severity, from minor tremors to cataclysmic disasters taking thousands of lives (notable examples being the 1931 and 1972 Managua earthquakes).

An intensely socially conservative nation, it is the only country in the world where abortion is illegal without exception - even when the mother's life is in danger. Divorce and homosexuality remain social taboos, and the status of women leaves much to be desired. Though religious freedom is protected by law and the majority of Central Americans are tolerant of other faiths, the Roman Catholic Church remains the official religion, and, as can be surmised, wields a considerable amount of influence.

Though much social, political, and economic progress has been made in the past few decades, especially since the early 1980s, corruption remains a cause of concern and income and land distribution is among the most inequal in the world.

History

Pre-colonial history

In pre-Columbian times, most of modern Central America was part of the Mesoamerican civilization. The Native American societies of Mesoamerica occupied the land ranging from central Mexico in the north to Costa Rica in the south. Most notable among these were the Maya, who had built numerous cities throughout the region, and the Aztecs, who created a vast empire. The pre-Columbian cultures of Panama traded with both Mesoamerica and South America, and can be considered transitional between those two cultural areas.

Colonization

Following Christopher Columbus's discovery of the Americas for Spain, the Spanish sent numerous expeditions to the region, and they began their conquest of Maya lands in the 1520s. In 1540, Spain established the Captaincy General of Guatemala, which extended from southern Mexico to Costa Rica, and thus encompassed most of what is currently known as Central America, with the exception of British Honduras (present-day Belize). This lasted nearly three centuries, until a rebellion (which followed closely on the heels of the Mexican War of Independence) in 1821.

Independence

In 1821 a congress of Central American criollos declared their independence from Spain, effective on September 15 of that year. That date is still marked as the independence day by most Central American nations. The Spanish Captain General, Gabino Gaínza, sympathized with the rebels and it was decided that he should stay on as interim leader until a new government could be formed. Independence was short-lived, for the conservative leaders in Guatemala welcomed annexation by the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide on January 5, 1822. Central American liberals objected to this, but an army from Mexico under General Vicente Filisola occupied Guatemala City and quelled dissent.

When Mexico became a republic the following year, it acknowledged Central America's right to determine its own destiny. On July 1, 1823, the congress of Central America declared absolute independence from Spain, Mexico, and any other foreign nation, and a republican system of government was established.

Early republic

Early map of the United Provinces.

In 1823 the nation of Central America was formed. It was intended to be a federal republic modeled after the United States of America. The Central American nation consisted of the states of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

Central American liberals had high hopes for the United Provinces, which they believed would evolve into a modern, democratic nation, enriched by trade crossing through it between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. These aspirations are reflected in the emblems of the federal republic: The flag shows a white band between two blue stripes, representing the land between two oceans. The coat of arms shows five mountains (one for each state) between two oceans, surmounted by a Phrygian cap, the emblem of the French Revolution.

In the late 1830s, the nation nearly dissolved as a result of civil war, which directly resulted from Honduras's attempt to secede on November 5, 1838. A brief but economically disastrous war followed, which ended in 1840 with Honduras's re-integration into the Union.

The remainder of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th were characterized by alternating periods of spectacular economic growth and economic malaise, and general peace but severe political instability; most governments were both notoriously corrupt and short-lived. Two parties — the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party — dominated the political arena. The difference between the two was negligible. Both were staunchly conservative with strong ties to the Roman Catholic Church, and both represented the tiny but extremely powerful oligarchy, which, while numerically small, controlled the vast majority of the country's wealth and owned most of the land. Patronage, nepotism, and political infighting were rife. In concert with developments in Europe, class consciousness and social tensions gradually began to build in Central America.

United States involvement (1909—1933)

The early 20th century was characterized by pervasive involvement in Central American politics by the United States. In 1909, the U.S. provided political support to conservative-led forces rebelling against then-President Zelaya. U.S. motives included differences over the proposed Central American Canal and Zelaya's attempts to regulate foreign access to Central American natural resources. On November 18, 1909, U.S. warships were sent to the area after 500 revolutionaries (including two Americans) were executed by order of Zelaya. The U.S. justified the intervention by claiming to protect U.S. lives and property. Zelaya resigned later that year.

In August 1912 the President of Central America, Manuel Estrada Cabrera (who had succeeded Zelaya), requested that the Secretary of War, General Luis Mena, resign for fear that he was leading an insurrection. Mena fled San Salvador with his brother, the Chief of Police of San Salvador, to start an insurrection. When the U.S. Legation asked President Estrada to ensure the safety of American citizens and property during the insurrection he replied that he could not and that "In consequence my Government desires that the Government of the United States guarantee with its forces security for the property of American Citizens in Central America and that it extend its protection to all the inhabitants of the Republic."

U.S. Marines occupied Central America from 1912 to 1933, except for a nine month period beginning in 1925. Estrada ruled the country until 1923. He brought stability to Central America, often at the price of dictatorial rule. He encouraged development of the nation's infrastructure of highways, railroads, and sea ports. The United Fruit Company became an important force in Central America during his presidency. Opposition to his regime slowly grew; by 1920, opposition was widespread. In 1923, he was removed from office by the army, which charged that he was "mentally incompetent." With Estrada's departure went the nation's political stability; between 1923 and 1937, the country had eight Presidents.

Following the evacuation of U.S. Marines, another violent conflict between Liberals and Conservatives took place in 1926, known as the Constitutionalist War, which resulted in a coalition government and the return of U.S. Marines.

From 1927 until 1933, Gen. Augusto C. Sandino led a sustained guerrilla war first against the Conservative regime and subsequently against the U.S. Marines, who withdrew upon the establishment of a new Liberal government. Sandino was the only Central American general to refuse to sign the el tratado del Espino Negro agreement and then headed up to the northern mountains of Las Segovias, where he fought the U.S. Marines for over five years. The revolt finally forced the United States to compromise and leave the country. When the Americans left in 1933, they set up the Guardia Nacional (National Guard), a combined military and police force trained and equipped by the Marines. Anastasio Somoza García was put in charge of the Guardia Nacional. He was one of the three rulers of the country, the others being Sandino and the mostly figurehead President Juan Bautista Sacasa.

After the U.S. Marines withdrew from Nicaragua in January 1933, Sandino and the newly-elected Sacasa government reached an agreement by which he would cease his guerrilla activities in return for amnesty, a grant of land for an agricultural colony, and retention of an armed band of 100 men for a year. But a growing hostility between Sandino and Somoza led Somoza to order the assassination of Sandino. Fearing future armed opposition from Sandino, Somoza invited him to a meeting in Managua, where Sandino was assassinated on February 21, 1934 by the Guardia Nacional.

The Somoza era

In 1936, Somoza orchestrated a bloodless coup d'état, deposing Sacasa. A series of hand-picked puppets ruled for the remainder of the year; in December, Somoza was elected in his own right, and assumed office on New Year's Day, 1937. Somoza suspended the constitution, centralized and concentrated considerable power into his own hands, doled out important positions in the government and military to close relatives and friends, and accumulated a considerable fortune, primarily through investments in agricultural exports, but also by granting generous concessions to foreign (primarily American) companies to exploit gold, rubber and timber, for which he received 'executive levies' and 'presidential commissions.'

While opposition parties continued to exist (at least on paper), real power rested firmly in the hands of the Somoza family, and the two main parties, the Nationalist Liberal Party (Somoza's party) and the Conservative Party, had virtually indistinguishable platforms. The presidency rotated between Somoza and hand-picked candidates, but regardless of who held the presidency, the Somozas always wielded power behind the scenes, with the backing of the National Guard.

On a positive note, the country enjoyed a great degree of political stability and peace, and much economic progress was made. However, rampant corruption and an increasingly wide gap between the elite and the rural poor alienated many from Somoza.

In the international arena, Somoza aligned his country closely with the United States. Central America became the first country in Latin America to join the United States in formal declaration of World War II, and it was also a major supplier of materials to the U.S. war effort. Central America was also one of the original signatories to the United Nations Charter (and the first nation in the world to ratify the UN charter). With the advent of the Cold War, Somoza, well-known as a staunch anticommunist, readily received U.S. support. Central America gained a reputation as one of the most outspokenly pro-Western and anticommunist countries in the Third World.

In 1948, in the aftermath of a highly disputed election (which, naturally, Somoza won), José Figueres Ferrer led an armed uprising against the government. With more than 2,000 dead, the resulting 44-day civil war was the bloodiest event in Central American history during the first half of the twentieth-century. Afterwards, the new, victorious government junta, led by the opposition, abolished the National Guard (replacing it with an apolitical, professional military), sent Somoza into exile (where he ended up settling in Miami, Florida), and oversaw the drafting of a new constitution by a democratically-elected assembly. Most significantly, the country's draconian ballot access laws were relaxed, effectively ending the two-party duopoly that had endured since the 19th century. Several new parties sprung into being as a result, including the social democratic National Liberation Party (Partido Liberación Nacional), founded by Figueres.

Having enacted these reforms, the regime finally relinquished its power on November 8, 1949 to the new democratic government. After the coup d'état, Figueres became a national hero, winning the country's first democratic election under the new constitution in 1953.

As for Somoza, his legacy remains a mixed one. His supporters characterize him as a "benevolent dictator," citing the progress Central America made on the economic front as well as the general stability that prevailed through his administration. However, his detractors are quick to point out that under Somoza, corruption reached endemic proportions, the country's illusory "democracy" was a façade, and dissent was not tolerated. Somoza himself was known as saying that he was personally in favor of democracy, but only when the country was "ready" for it. In a 1953 interview with the New York Times, he said, "I would like nothing better than to give [the Central Americans] the same kind of freedom as that of the United States...It is like what you do with a baby. First you give it milk by drops, then more and more, then a little piece of pig, and finally it can eat everything...You cannot give a bunch of five-year-olds guns...They will kill each other. You have to teach them how to use freedom, not to abuse it."

Somoza died of natural causes in Miami, Florida on September 29, 1956. He was 60 years old.

The 1950s: Central America on the upswing

The government of José Figueres Ferrer was the most progressive one Central America ever had. Women's suffrage was granted; the banking, telecommunications, and utilities sectors were nationalized; resources earmarked for education increased 250% between 1953 and 1958; a generous social security system and labor code were introduced; and ambitious public works programs were launched. Central America pursued a pragmatic, middle-of-the-road economic policy, combining a business-friendly environment with a progressive welfare state, in an effort to counterbalance both reactionary oligarchs and an increasingly militant left-wing grassroots movement. Figueres maintained the pro-American foreign policy initiated by his predecessors.

Figueres was immensely popular both at home and abroad for his reformism, pragmatism, and strenuous opposition to extremism on both ends of the political spectrum. While he came nowhere close to fulfilling all his goals (especially in the area of land reform), he left office with very high approval ratings.

1960s: The specter of Cuba

Shortly before leaving office, Figueres granted former President Somoza a posthumous pardon, and permitted the Somoza family to return to Central America from exile. They did so, and to the surprise of many, Somoza's elder son, Luis Somoza Debayle, entered the presidential race in 1958 and won. While he proved to be a great deal more moderate and lenient of opposition than his father, he was criticized for appointing a disproportionate number of family members and close friends to top government and military positions, and several companies owned by the Somoza family and its friends acquired monopolies and accumulated millions in illicit wealth. The escalating level of corruption effectively radicalized certain segments of the population — particularly left-leaning clergy, college students, and trade unions — and made them ripe for communist infiltration.

Central America earned the undying hatred of Cuba's Fidel Castro when, in 1960, the country provided basing and logistical support for the ill-fated Bay of Pigs operation. Castro retaliated in kind by covertly funneling weapons and money to anti-government groups. In 1962, a radical left-wing guerrilla organization, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional), named after the late revolutionary Augusto C. Sandino, was created, with the goal of overthrowing the government and establishing a Marxist-Leninist state aligned with the Soviet bloc. Beginning in 1964, a low-key insurgency began, with sporadic skirmishes between guerrillas and government forces taking place, mostly in the countryside.

In 1962, Luis's term came to an end, and he was succeeded by René Schick, widely viewed as a weak politician. Cynics lamented — not without justification — that the Somozas were the real "power behind the throne" during this time. Even so, Luis's plan to run for President in 1966 was thwarted by his unexpected death, by a massive heart attack, that same year. Luis's younger brother, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, ran in his place. He won a landslide victory, but the election was widely boycotted by the opposition. His first term was largely uneventful, and he stepped down in 1970, owing to a law which forbade consecutive re-election. Central American liberation hero and former President José Figueres Ferrer was elected to his third and final term that year.

1970s: The crisis years

The early 1970s were relatively calm and stable, in marked contrast to the social unrest and frequent anti-government demonstrations of the late 1960s. The economy was sound, and Figueres's social programs, moderation, and appeals for pragmatism dissuaded most Central Americans from supporting the FSLN, and the organization disappeared for the time being; most assumed that it disbanded, but it was simply biding its time.

Perhaps Figueres's most enduring legacy was his timely, effective response to the 1972 earthquake which devastated Managua, Nicaragua. He successfully sought, and received, considerable international assistance, from friendly and unfriendly governments alike (even Cuba and the Warsaw Pact countries contributed aid), as well as the private sector and non-profit organizations. Figueres appointed a bipartisan team of highly-efficient technocrats to oversee the reconstruction of Managua, and his appeals to national unity brought together Central Americans as no event has before or since. Even former President Somoza, a political rival of Figueres, effusively praised Figueres's "heroism and bold leadership in Central America's darkest hour."

Shortly toward the end of Figueres's term, a new constitution was adopted, replacing the unicameral legislature with a bicameral one and extending the President's term from four years to six (however, this would not take effect until after the next President took office).

Figueres retired from politics in 1974, and handed over leadership of the party to Daniel Oduber Quirós. That year, Obuder ran for President as candidate for the National Liberation Party, but lost in a close race to former President Somoza.

Initially, Somoza's second term was promising. Record levels of foreign investment poured into the country, and the economy flourished. Corruption remained rampant, but so long as the average Central American had a stable job and a roof over his head, he was willing to overlook this. Little did anyone suspect that the now-forgotten FSLN would soon return with a vengeance — and nearly bring down the government in the process.

The murder of newspaper editor Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, a long-time critic of the Somoza family, in 1975, provoked widespread demonstrations, some numbering in the hundreds of thousands, against the government. Although his involvement was never proven, Somoza was widely accused of ordering, or at least being privy to the planning of, Chamorro's murder. Chamorro's murder remains unsolved, and the circumstances surrounding his death remain highly controversial, contentious, and hotly debated to this day.

When ill-disciplined security forces shot and killed a number of the protesters, the situation was inflamed further, and the FSLN, capitalizing on the growing polarization of society and breakdown of stability, began staging a series of increasingly bold attacks on banks, police stations, military bases, power plants, and other "strategic" targets. Somoza responded by declaring a state of siege and granting the military nearly unlimited power to deal with the situation however they saw fit. Massive atrocities were committed by both sides, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and collective punishment.

By 1978, almost 20,000 civilians had been killed, and the economy was devastated. After a series of military reversals, the armed forces finally gained the upper hand, and the capture and execution of such major FSLN leaders as the Ortega brothers and Tomás Borge, effectively decapitated the resistance. The increasingly gruesome and brutal tactics of the FSLN also alienated an increasingly large segment of society. In July 1979, the FSLN offered to surrender, on the condition that Somoza resign. He agreed to do so, "in the interest of national reconciliation," and he stepped down on July 17, 1979, handing over the reins of power to his Vice-President, Francisco Urcuyo Maliaños. The remaining Sandinistas disbanded (most went into voluntary exile), and Urcuyo completed the remainder of Somoza's term before retiring from politics.

1980s—1990s: Renewal and recovery

In 1980, a relatively unknown politician — José Napoleón Duarte of the centrist Christian Democratic Party — was elected President on a platform of "reconstruction and reconciliation." The day he assumed office, all political prisoners were freed, and a blanket amnesty was granted to both military personnel and FSLN guerrillas who had committed human rights abuses. Duarte appointed people from across the political spectrum to his cabinet, encouraged all Central Americans to participate in the rebuilding of the country, and worked closely with the IMF and the World Bank in an effort to attract foreign investment into the country. His efforts largely succeeded, and by the time his term ended in 1986, the economy had recovered to its pre-1975 level. Duarte was succeeded by social democrat Óscar Arias of the National Liberation Party.

Under Arias and his successors, the center-right Alfredo Cristiani and Francisco Flores Pérez of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (as the Conservative Party was now called), the economy continued to grow, and free trade agreements were signed with various countries. President Flores Pérez came under significant criticism (mostly from abroad) when his government signed into law a bill making abortion illegal under any circumstances. Even so, most Central Americans approved of the bill, although the number of underground abortions skyrocketed, as did the number of maternal deaths due to unsafe abortions.

2000—present: The second Arias administration

Voters returned Arias to the presidency in 2004. He has continued the trade liberalization initiated by his predecessors, while also introducing a willing-buyer, willing-seller land reform program to address the considerable disparity in land distribution. Progress has been slow, but noticeable, and Arias himself remains popular with most Central Americans. Relations with the country's historic ally, the United States, remain cordial.

Economy

to be added

Politics

Central America is a federal republic with a level of de-centralization surpassed only by Switzerland. Like Switzerland, it is highly democratic, and the Constitution guarantees a great deal of civil liberties. Central Americans are a public-spirited, civic-minded, highly politically active people, and elections are eagerly anticipated occasions and public debate is lively.

Political parties

Party name	Party leader	Platform
National Liberation Party Partido Liberación Nacional	Francisco Antonio Pacheco Fernández	Social democracy, democratic socialism
Nationalist Liberal Party Partido Liberal Nacionalista	Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero	Populism, somocismo
Nationalist Republican Alliance Alianza Republicana Nacionalista	Rodrigo Ávila	Neoliberalism, social conservatism
Christian Democratic Party Partido Demócrata Cristiano	Rodolfo Parker	Centrism, Christian democracy
Citizens' Action Party Partido Acción Ciudadana	Epsy Campbell	Progressivism, anti-corruption
Libertarian Movement Movimiento Libertario	Otto Guevara	Classical liberalism, moderate libertarianism
Constitutionalist Liberal Party Partido Liberal Constitucionalista	Jorge Quant	Liberalism, anti-somocismo
Ecologist Green Party Partido Verde Ecologista	Edward Martín Salazar Cruz	Green politics, ecology
Democratic Change Cambio Democrático	Héctor Miguel Antonio Dada Hirezi	Center-left

The National Congress

The National Palace.

The legislative branch of Central America is the bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional), comprising the Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) and the Senate (Senado). Both houses convene in the National Palace (Palacio Nacional), located in the capital, San Salvador.

The National Congress's powers, include, but are not limited to, the power to initiate legislation; grant (or deny) consent to presidential appointments; to authorize the ratification of treaties or the declaration of war; to impeach government officials; and, perhaps most importantly, the "power of the purse."

The Chamber of Deputies is made up of 150 deputies, elected directly by the people of their respective constituencies, on a proportional representative basis of one deputy for every 250,000 people (originally, one for every 30,000 people, but this was changed to accomodate for population growth). To be eligible for membership in the Chamber of Deputies, a candidate must be at least 25 years of age, a Central American citizen by birth (born of either a Central American father or mother, or both), in full enjoyment of their political and civic rights, and they must have been resident in the country for the previous five years.

The Senate is comprised of 30 elected members, directly elected by the people in a single national district. In addition, former Presidents of Central America, as well as the runner-up in the most recent presidential election, are entitled to membership in the Senate. The Senate currently has 33 senators (30 elected members, 2 ex-Presidents, and the runner-up of the last presidential election). To be eligible for membership in the Senate, a candidate must be at least 40 years of age, a Central American citizen by birth (born of either a Central American father or mother, or both), in full enjoyment of their political and civic rights, and they must have been resident in the country for the previous five years.

Members of both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate serve for six year terms (except for ex-Presidents in the Senate, who serve for life). There are no term limits, and both consecutive and non-consecutive re-election are allowed.

The National Congress is presided over by a President of the Congress (Presidente del Congreso), elected by the Congress from among its members.

The composition of the current Congress is:

Party name	Chamber of Deputies	Senate
National Liberation Party	48	13
Nationalist Liberal Party	37	8
Nationalist Republican Alliance	30	6
Christian Democratic Party	15	2
Citizens' Action Party	8	1
Libertarian Movement Party	5	0
Constitutionalist Liberal Party	4	0
Ecologist Green Party	4	0
Democratic Change	3	0

The President

Casa Presidencial (Presidential House).

The executive branch is headed by the President (Presidente), who serves as chief of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Unlike the President of the United States, who is elected by the Electoral College, the President of Central America is popularly elected; also unlike the President of the U.S., the Central American President's term is six years long. He is eligible for re-election, but his terms cannot be consecutive. There are no term limits, but a President by convention never serves more than two terms. The President and the Vice-President (Vicepresidente) are elected on the same ticket.

The Vice-President mainly serves as a "spare wheel," for the President; in the event that the President dies, resigns, becomes incapacitated, is removed from office, or is otherwise unable to fulfill his duties, the Vice-President does so in his stead. The President's official residence is the Casa Presidencial (English: "Presidential House").

The President has authority:

To defend the independence and honor of the nation and the integrity of its territory;
To execute and enforce the Constitution and laws;
To veto legislation (although the National Congress can override his veto);
To regulate the laws without transgressing or distorting them, and with this restriction, issue decrees, resolutions and instructions;
To freely appoint and dismiss ministers and vice-ministers and other officials and employees of the executive branch, as well as make other appointments by law;
To conduct foreign affairs and to appoint and accredit, and receive and recognize, ambassadors, plenipotentiaries, diplomatic representatives and other diplomatic officers, consuls and consular officers;
To declare war (with the authorization of Congress) and repel foreign aggression (without the authorization of Congress, if the situation requires it);
To enter into treaties and other diplomatic negotiations, and ratify them upon approval by Congress;
To allow or deny the transit of foreign military forces in Central America;
To grant letters of naturalization and cancel them, in accordance with the law;
To exercise the oversight and supervision of credit institutions, and organizations that operate with money or other public property;
To establish and maintain standards of uniformity in weights and measures;
To enter into contracts under the Constitution and the laws for service delivery and implementation of public works and for purposes of general interest;
To rehabilitate under the law citizens whose rights are suspended;
To enable ports or close them; create, move or delete customs, under regulations issued by the Congress;
To register ships and aircraft as Central American in accordance with the law;
To grant merits, decorations, medals, diplomas, and awards established by law;
To perform such other functions of government and administration as required by law

To be eligible for President, a candidate must meet the following qualifications as a candidate for the Chamber of Deputies would.

The President's Cabinet members are listed as follows:

Portfolio	Minister
Attorney General Fiscal General	Ramón García Guzmán
Minister of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Ministro de Agricultura y Ganadería	Rafael Ocón Mora
Minister of Defense Ministro de Defensa	Julio Salazar Ramirez
Minister of Economy, Industry, and Commerce Ministro de Economía, Industria y Comercio	Rómulo Martínez Hidalgo
Minister of Foreign Relations Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores	Roberto de Paula Hernández
Minister of Finance and Public Credit Ministro de Hacienda y Crédito Público	Tomás Caldera Guitierrez
Minister of the Government Ministro de la Gobernación	Rubén Urtecho Vegas
Minister of Labor Ministro del Trabajo	Leonardo Gallardo Ugarte
Minister of Public Education Ministro de Educación Pública	César López Sánchez
Minister of Public Health Ministro de Salud Pública	José Rafael Espada
Minister of Public Works Ministro de Obras Públicas	Amilcar Guerrero Cerezo

The Supreme Court of Justice

The Supreme Court of Justice.

The judiciary of Central America comprises the Supreme Court of Justice, the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Labor Tribunal, the Administrative Court, State, District, and Local Judges, Judges of Labor, and Public Property Registrars. Federal and state judges serve six year terms; district judges serve three year terms; local judges serve one year terms. The judiciary is independent of the executive branch. All tribunal and court hearings are open to the public.

The nine-member Supreme Court of Justice (Suprema Corte de Justicia) functions as a court of last resort, hears cases against senior government officials, and reviews the constitutionality of laws. Its members, including the President of the Supreme Court of Justice (the equivalent of the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court), are elected by the National Congress. Judges must be natural-born citizens, in full enjoyment of their political and civic rights, of proven honesty and morality, at least 35 years of age (but no older than 60), and they must have practiced law for a minimum of ten years.

State governments

State and local governments are organizationally somewhat similar to the federal government. Each state has its own legislature (known simply as "Congress"; however, state legislatures differ from the National Congress in that they are unicameral), executive branch (headed by a popularly elected Governor), and judiciary (like its federal counterpart, known as the Supreme Court of Justice). Members of state legislatures serve two-year terms, which are staggered so that half of the members are elected one year, and the other half are elected the following year. A Governor's term of office is four years; most states allow consecutive re-election, but all states except El Salvador also have term limits. Costa Rica's Supreme Court of Justice is popularly elected (members serve six year terms, which are staggered so that one-third of its members are elected every two years), Guatemala's is appointed by the Governor, and the remainder are appointed by their respective state legislatures.

The Constitution stipulates that whatever powers are not explicitly granted to the federal government, nor denied by it to the states, are reserved for the state and local governments. As such, the states enjoy a very large degree of autonomy.

Subdivisions

The United Provinces of the Center of America comprises 5 states (estados), divided into 77 departments (departamentos), which are in turn divided into 1,126 municipalities (municipios).

The states, departments, and municipalities of Central America are listed as follows:

Costa Rica

Alajuela

Alajuela
Alfaro Ruiz
Atenas
Grecia
Guatuso
Los Chiles
Naranjo
Orotina
Palmares
Poás
San Carlos
San Mateo
San Ramón
Upala
Valverde Vega

Cartago

Alvarado
Cartago
El Guarco
Jiménez
La Unión
Oreamuno
Paraíso
Turialba

Guanacaste

Abangares
8Bagaces
Cañas
Carrillo
Hojancha
La Cruz
Liberia
Nandayure
Nicoya
Santa Cruz
Tilarán

Heredia

Barva
Belén
Flores
Heredia
Santa Bárbara
Santo Domingo
San Isidro
San Pablo
San Rafael
Sarapiquí

Limón

Guácimo
Limón
Matina
Pococí
Siquirres
Talamanca

Puntarenas

Aguirre
Buenos Aires
Corredores
Coto Brus
Esparza
Garabito
Golfito
Montes de Oro
Osa
Parrita
Puntarenas

San José

Acosta
Alajuelita
Aserrí
Curridabat
Desamparados
Dota
Escazú
Goicoechea
León Cortés
Montes de Oca
Mora
Moravia
Pérez Zeledón
Puriscal
San José
Santa Ana
Tarrazú
Tibás
Turrubares
Vázquez de Coronado

El Salvador

Ahuachapán

Ahuachapán
Apaneca
Atiquizaya
Concepción de Ataco
El Refugio
Guaymango
Jujutla
San Francisco Menéndez
San Lorenzo
San Pedro Puxtla
Tacuba
Turín

Cabañas

Cinquera
Dolores
Guacotecti
Ilobasco
Jutiapa
San Isidro
Sensuntepeque
Tejutepeque
Victoria

Chalatenango

Agua Caliente
Arcatao
Azacualpa
Chalatenango
Citalá
Comalapa
Concepción Quezaltepeque
Dulce Nombre de María
El Carrizal
El Paraíso
La Laguna
La Palma
La Reina
Las Vueltas
Nombre de Jesús
Nueva Concepción
Nueva Trinidad
Ojos de Agua
Potonico
San Antonio de la Cruz
San Antonio Los Ranchos
San Fernando
San Francisco Lempa
San Francisco Morazán
San Ignacio
San Isidro Labrador
San José Cancasque
San José Las Flores
San Luis del Carmen
San Miguel de Mercedes
San Rafael
Santa Rita
Tejutla

Cuscatlán

Candelaria
Cojutepeque
El Carmen
El Rosario
Monte San Juan
Oratorio de Concepción
San Bartolomé Perulapía
San Cristóbal
San José Guayabal
San Pedro Perulapán
San Rafael Cedros
San Ramón
Santa Cruz Analquito
Santa Cruz Michapa
Suchitoto
Tenancingo
Zacatecas

La Libertad

Antiguo Cuscatlán
Chiltiupán
Ciudad Arce
Colón
Comasagua
Huizúcar
Jayaque
Jicalapa
La Libertad
Nuevo Cuscatlán
Opico
Quezaltepeque
Sacacoyo
San José Villanueva
San Matías
San Pablo Tacachico
Santa Tecla
Talnique
Tamanique
Teotepeque
Tepecoyo
Zaragoza

La Paz

Cuyultitán
El Rosario
Jerusalén
Mercedes La Ceiba
Olocuilta
Paraíso de Osorio
San Antonio Masahuat
San Emigdio
San Francisco Chinameca
San Juan Nonualco
San Juan Talpa
San Juan Tepezontes
San Luis La Herradura
San Luis Talpa
San Miguel Tepezontes
San Pedro Masahuat
San Pedro Nonualco
San Rafael Obrajuelo
Santa María Ostuma
Santiago Nonualco
Tapalhuaca
Zacatecoluca

La Unión

Anamorós
Bolívar
Concepción de Oriente
Conchagua
El Carmen
El Sauce
Intipucá
La Unión
Lislique
Meanguera del Golfo
Nueva Esparta
Pasaquina
Polorós
San Alejo
San José
Santa Rosa de Lima
Yayantique
Yucuaiquín

Morazán

Arambala
Cacaopera
Chilanga
Corinto
Delicias de Concepción
El Divisadero
El Rosario
Gualococti
Guatajiagua
Joateca
Jocoaitique
Jocoro
Lolotiquillo
Meanguera
Osicala
Perquín
San Carlos
San Fernando
San Francisco Gotera
San Isidro
San Simón
Sensembra
Sociedad
Torola
Yamabal
Yoloaiquín

San Miguel

Carolina
Chapeltique
Chinameca
Chirilagua
Ciudad Barrios
Comacarán
El Tránsito
Lolotique
Moncagua
Nueva Guadalupe
Nuevo Edén de San Juan
San Antonio
San Gerardo
San Jorge
San Luis de la Reina
San Miguel
San Rafael
Sesori
Uluazapa

San Salvador

Aguilares
Apopa
Ayutuxtepeque
Cuscatancingo
Delgado
El Paisnal
Guazapa
Ilopango
Mejicanos
Nejapa
Panchimalco
Rosario de Mora
San Marcos
San Martín
San Salvador
Santiago Texacuangos
Santo Tomás
Soyapango
Tonacatepeque

San Vicente

Apastepeque
Guadalupe
San Cayetano Istepeque
San Esteban Catarina
San Ildefonso
San Lorenzo
San Sebastián
Santa Clara
Santo Domingo
San Vicente
Tecoluca
Tepetitán
Verapaz

Santa Ana

Candelaria de la Frontera
Chalchuapa
Coatepeque
El Congo
El Porvenir
Masahuat
Metapán
San Antonio Pajonal
San Sebastián Salitrillo
Santa Ana
Santa Rosa Guachipilín
Santiago de la Frontera
Texistepeque

Sonsonate

Acajutla
Armenia
Caluco
Cuisnahuat
Izalco
Juayúa
Nahuizalco
Nahulingo
Salcoatitán
San Antonio del Monte
San Julián
Santa Catarina Masahuat
Santa Isabel Ishuatán
Santo Domingo
Sonsonate
Sonzacate

Usulután

Alegría
Berlín
California
Concepción Batres
El Triunfo
Ereguayquín
Estanzuelas
Jiquilisco
Jucuapa
Jucuarán
Mercedes Umaña
Nueva Granada
Ozatlán
Puerto El Triunfo
San Agustín
San Buenaventura
San Dionisio
San Francisco Javier
Santa Elena
Santa María
Santiago de María
Tecapán
Usulután

Guatemala

Alta Verapaz

Chahal
Chisec
Cobán
Fray Bartolomé de las Casas
Lanquín
Panzós
San Cristóbal Verapaz
Santa Cruz Verapaz
San Juan Chamelco
San Pedro Carchá
Santa Catalina la Tinta
Santa María Cahabón
Senahú
Tactic
Tamahú
Tucurú

Baja Verapaz

Cubulco
Granados
Purulhá
Rabinal
Salamá
San Jerónimo
San Miguel Chicaj
Santa Cruz El Chol

Chimaltenango

Acatenango
Chimaltenango
Comalapa
El Tejar
Parramos
Patzicía
Patzún
Pochuta
San Andrés Itzapa
San José Poaquil
San Martín Jilotepeque
Santa Apolonia
Santa Cruz Balanyá
Tecpán Guatemala
Yepocapa
Zaragoza

Chiquimula

Camotán
Chiquimula
Concepción Las Minas
Esquipulas
Ipala
Jocotán
Olopa
Quezaltepeque
San Jacinto
San José La Arada
San Juan Ermita

El Petén

Dolores
Flores
La Libertad
Melchor de Mencos
Poptún
San Andrés
San Benito
San Francisco
San José
San Luis
Santa Ana
Sayaxché

El Progreso

El Jícaro
Guastatoya
Morazán
San Agustín Acasaguastlán
San Antonio La Paz
San Cristóbal Acasaguastlán
Sanarate
Sansare

El Quiché

Canillá
Chajul
Chicaman
Chiché
Chichicastenango
Chinique
Cunén
Joyabaj
Nebaj
Sacapulas
Patzité
Pachalúm
Playa Grande Ixcán
San Andrés Sajcabajá
San Antonio Ilotenango
San Bartolomé Jocotenango
San Juan Cotzal
San Pedro Jocopilas
Santa Cruz del Quiché
Uspantán
Zacualpa

Escuintla

Escuintla
Guanagazapa
Iztapa
La Democracia
La Gomera
Masagua
Nueva Concepción
Palín
San José
San Vicente Pacaya
Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa
Siquinalá
Tiquisate

Guatemala

Amatitlán
Chinautla
Chuarrancho
Fraijanes
Guatemala City
Mixco
Palencia
Petapa
San José del Golfo
San José Pinula
San Juan Sacatepéquez
San Pedro Ayampuc
San Pedro Sacatepéquez
San Raymundo
Santa Catarina Pinula
Villa Canales

Huehuetenango

Aguacatán
Chiantla
Colotenango
Concepción Huista
Cuilco
Huehuetenango
Jacaltenango
La Democracia
La Libertad
Malacatancito
Nentón
San Antonio Huista
San Gaspar Ixchil
San Ildefonso Ixtahuacán
San Juan Atitán
San Juan Ixcoy
San Mateo Ixtatán
San Miguel Acatán
San Pedro Necta
Soloma
San Rafael La Independencia
San Rafael Petzal
San Sebastián Coatán
San Sebastián Huehuetenango
Santa Ana Huista
Santa Bárbara
Santa Cruz Barillas
Santa Eulalia
Santiago Chimaltenango
Tectitán
Todos Santos Cuchumatán
Union Cantinil

Izabal

El Estor
Livingston
Los Amates
Morales
Puerto Barrios

Jalapa

Jalapa
Mataquescuintla
Monjas
San Carlos Alzatate
San Luis Jilotepeque
San Manuel Chaparrón
San Pedro Pinula

Jutiapa

Agua Blanca
Asunción Mita
Atescatempa
Comapa
Conguaco
El Adelanto
El Progreso
Jalpatagua
Jerez
Jutiapa
Moyuta
Pasaco
Quezada
San José Acatempa
Santa Catarina Mita
Yupiltepeque
Zapotitlán

Quetzaltenango

Almolonga
Cabricán
Cajolá
Cantel
Coatepeque
Colomba
Concepción Chiquirichapa
El Palmar
Flores Costa Cuca
Génova
Huitán
La Esperanza
Olintepeque
Ostuncalco
Palestina de Los Altos
Quetzaltenango
Salcajá
San Carlos Sija
San Francisco La Unión
San Martín Sacatepéquez
San Mateo
San Miguel Sigüilá
Sibilia
Zunil

Retalhuleu

Champerico
El Asintal
Nuevo San Carlos
Retalhuleu
San Andrés Villa Seca
San Felipe
San Martín Zapotitlán
San Sebastián
Santa Cruz Muluá

Sacatepéquez

Alotenango
Antigua Guatemala
Ciudad Vieja
Jocotenango
Magdalena Milpas Altas
Pastores
San Antonio Aguas Calientes
San Bartolomé Milpas Altas
San Lucas Sacatepéquez
San Miguel Dueñas
Santiago Sacatepéquez
Santa Catarina Barahona
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Santa María de Jesús
Santo Domingo Xenacoj
Sumpango

San Marcos

Ayutla
Catarina
Comitancillo
Concepción Tutuapa
El Quetzal
El Tumbador
Esquipulas Palo Gordo
Ixchiguan
La Reforma
Malacatán
Nuevo Progreso
Ocos
Pajapita
Río Blanco
San Antonio Sacatepéquez
San Cristóbal Cucho
San José Ojetenam
San Lorenzo
San Marcos
San Miguel Ixtahuacán
San Pablo
San Pedro Sacatepéquez
San Rafael Pie de La Cuesta
San Sibinal
Sipacapa
Tacaná
Tajumulco
Tejutla

Santa Rosa

Barberena
Casillas
Chiquimulilla
Cuilapa
Guazacapán
Nueva Santa Rosa
Oratorio
Pueblo Nuevo Viñas
San Juan Tecuaco
San Rafael Las Flores
Santa Cruz Naranjo
Santa María Ixhuatán
Santa Rosa de Lima
Taxisco

Sololá

Concepción
Nahualá
Panajachel
San Andrés Semetabaj
San Antonio Palopó
San José Chacayá
San Juan La Laguna
San Lucas Tolimán
San Marcos La Laguna
San Pablo La Laguna
San Pedro La Laguna
Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan
Santa Catarina Palopó
Santa Clara La Laguna
Santa Cruz La Laguna
Santa Lucía Utatlán
Santa María Visitación
Santiago Atitlán
Sololá

Suchitepéquez

Chicacao
Cuyotenango
Mazatenango
Patulul
Pueblo Nuevo
Río Bravo
Samayac
San Antonio Suchitepéquez
San Bernardino
San Francisco Zapotitlán
San Gabriel
San José El Idolo
San Juan Bautista
San Lorenzo, Suchitepéquez
San Miguel Panán
San Pablo Jocopilas
Santa Bárbara
Santo Domingo Suchitepequez
Santo Tomás La Unión
Zunilito

Totonicapán

Momostenango
San Andrés Xecul
San Bartolo
San Cristóbal Totonicapán
San Francisco El Alto
Santa Lucía La Reforma
Santa María Chiquimula
Totonicapán

Zacapa

Cabañas
Estanzuela
Gualán
Huité
La Unión
Río Hondo
San Diego
Teculután
Usumatlán
Zacapa

Honduras

Atlántida

Arizona
El Porvenir
Esparta
Jutiapa
La Ceiba
La Masica
San Francisco
Tela

Choluteca

Apacilagua
Choluteca
Concepción de María
Duyure
El Corpus
El Triunfo
Marcovia
Morolica
Namasigue
Orocuina
Pespire
San Antonio de Flores
San Isidro
San José
San Marcos de Colón
Santa Ana de Yusguare

Colón

Balfate
Bonito Oriental
Iriona
Limón
Sabá
Santa Fé
Santa Rosa de Aguán
Sonaguera
Tocoa
Trujillo

Comayagua

Ajuterique
Comayagua
El Rosario
Esquías
Humuya
La Libertad
Lamaní
Las Lajas
La Trinidad
Lejamaní
Meámbar
Minas de Oro
Ojos de Agua
San Jerónimo
San José de Comayagua
San José del Potrero
San Luis
San Sebastián
Siguatepeque
Taulabé
Villa de San Antonio

Copán

Cabañas
Concepción
Copán Ruinas
Corquín
Cucuyagua
Dolores
Dulce Nombre
El Paraíso
Florida
La Jigua
La Unión
Nueva Arcadia
San Agustín
San Antonio
San Jerónimo
San José
San Juan de Opoa
San Nicolás
San Pedro de Copán
Santa Rita
Santa Rosa de Copán
Trinidad de Copán
Veracruz

Cortés

Choloma
La Lima
Omoa
Pimienta
Potrerillos
Puerto Cortés
San Antonio de Cortés
San Francisco de Yojoa
San Manuel
San Pedro Sula
Santa Cruz de Yojoa
Villanueva

El Paraíso

Alauca
Danlí
El Paraíso
Guinope
Jacaleapa
Liure
Morocelí
Oropolí
Potrerillos
San Antonio de Flores
San Lucas
San Matías
Soledad
Teupasenti
Texiguat
Trojes
Vado Ancho
Yauyupe
Yuscarán

Francisco Morazán

Alubarén
Cedros
Curarén
Distrito Central
El Porvenir
Guaimaca
La Libertad
La Venta
Lepaterique
Maraita
Marale
Nueva Armenia
Ojojona
Orica
Reitoca
Sabanagrande
San Antonio de Oriente
San Buenaventura
San Ignacio
San Juan de Flores
San Miguelito
Santa Ana
Santa Lucía
Talanga
Tatumbla
Valle de Ángeles
Vallecillo
Villa de San Francisco
Zamorano

Gracias a Dios

Ahuas
Brus Laguna
Juan Francisco Bulnes
Puerto Lempira
Ramón Villeda Morales
Wampusirpi

Intibucá

Camasca
Colomoncagua
Concepción
Dolores
Intibucá
Jesús de Otoro
La Esperanza
Magdalena
Masaguara
San Antonio
San Francisco de Opalaca
San Isidro
San Juan
San Marco de Sierra
San Miguelito
Santa Lucía
Yamaranguila

Islas de la Bahía

Guanaja
José Santos Guardiola
Roatán
Útila

La Paz

Aguaqueterique
Cabañas
Cane
Chinacla
Guajiquiro
La Paz
Lauterique
Marcala
Mercedes de Oriente
Opatoro
San Antonio del Norte
San José
San Juan
San Pedro de Tutule
Santa Ana
Santa Elena
Santa María
Santiago de Puringla
Yarula

Lempira

Belén
Candelaria
Cololaca
Erandique
Gracias
Gualcince
Guarita
La Campa
La Iguala
Las Flores
La Unión
La Virtud
Lepaera
Mapulaca
Piraera
San Andrés
San Francisco
San Juan Guarita
San Manuel Colohete
San Marcos de Caiquín
San Rafael
San Sebastián
Santa Cruz
Talgua
Tambla
Tomalá
Valladolid
Virginia

Ocotepeque

Belén Gualcho
Concepción
Dolores Merendon
Fraternidad
La Encarnación
La Labor
Lucerna
Mercedes
Ocotepeque
San Fernando
San Francisco del Valle
San Jorge
San Marcos
Santa Fé
Sensenti
Sinuapa

Olancho

Campamento
Catacamas
Concordia
Dulce Nombre de Culmí
El Rosario
Esquipulas del Norte
Gualaco
Guarizama
Guata
Guayape
Jano
Juticalpa
La Unión
Mangulile
Manto
Patuca
Salamá
San Esteban
San Francisco de Becerra
San Francisco de la Paz
Santa Maria del Real
Silca
Yocón

Santa Bárbara

Arada
Atima
Azacualpa
Ceguaca
Chinda
Concepción del Norte
Concepción del Sur
El Nispero
Gualala
Ilama
Las Vegas
Macuelizo
Naranjito
Nueva Frontera
Nuevo Celilac
Petoa
Protección
Quimistán
San Francisco de Ojuera
San José de Colinas
San Luis
San Marcos
San Nicolás
San Pedro Zacapa
Santa Bárbara
Santa Rita
San Vicente Centenario
Trinidad

Valle

Alianza
Amapala
Aramecina
Caridad
Goascorán
Langue
Nacaome
San Francisco de Coray
San Lorenzo

Yoro

Arenal
El Negrito
El Progreso
Jocón
Morazán
Olanchito
Santa Rita
Sulaco, Yoro
Victoria
Yorito
Yoro

Nicaragua

Boaco

Boaco
Camoapa
San José de los Remates
San Lorenzo
Santa Lucía
Teustepe

Carazo

Diriamba
Dolores
El Rosario
Jinotepe
La Conquista
La Paz de Carazo
San Marcos
Santa Teresa

Chinandega

Chichigalpa
Chinandega
Cinco Pinos
Corinto
El Realejo
El Viejo
Posoltega
Puerto Morazán
San Francisco del Norte
San Pedro del Norte
Santo Tomás del Norte
Somotillo
Villa Nueva

Chontales

Acoyapa
Comalapa
El Coral
Juigalpa
La Libertad
San Francisco de Cuapa
San Pedro de Lóvago
Santo Domingo
Santo Tomás
Villa Somoza

Estelí

Condega
Estelí
La Trinidad
Pueblo Nuevo
San Juan de Limay
San Nicolás

Granada

Diria
Diriomo
Granada
Nandaime

Jinotega

El Cuá
Jinotega
La Concordia
San José de Bocay
San Rafael del Norte
San Sebastián de Yalí
Santa María de Pantasma
Wiwilí

León

El Jicaral
El Sauce
La Paz Centro
Larreynaga
León
Nagarote
Quezalguaque
San José de Achuapa
Santa Rosa del Peñón
Telica

Madriz

Las Sabanas
Palacagüina
San José de Cusmapa
San Juan del Río Coco
San Lucas
Somoto
Telpaneca
Totogalpa
Yalagüina

Managua

Ciudad Sandino
El Crucero
Managua
Mateare
San Francisco Libre
San Judas
San Rafael del Sur
Ticuantepe
Tipitapa
Villa Chamorro

Masaya

Catarina
La Concepción
Masatepe
Masaya
Nandasmo
Nindirí
Niquinomo
San Juan de Oriente
Tisma

Matagalpa

Ciudad Darío
Esquipulas
Matagalpa
Matiguas
Muy Muy
Rancho Grande
Río Blanco
San Dionisio
San Isidro
San Ramón
Sébaco
Terrabona
Tuma-La Dalia

Nueva Segovia

Ciudad Antigua
Dipilto
El Jícaro
Jalapa
Macuelizo
Mozonte
Murra
Ocotal
Quilalí
San Fernando
Santa María
Wiwilí de Nueva Segovia

Rivas

Altagracia
Belén
Buenos Aires
Cárdenas
Moyogalpa
Potosí
Rivas
San Jorge
San Juan del Sur
Tola

Río San Juan

El Almendro
El Castillo
Morrito
San Carlos
San Juan del Norte
San Miguelito

Zelaya

Bluefields
Bocana de Paiwas
Bonanza
Corn Island
Desembocadura de la Cruz de Río Grande
El Ayote
El Rama
El Tortugero
Kukra Hill
La Cruz de Río Grande
Laguna de Perlas
Muelle de los Bueyes
Nueva Guinea
Prinzapolka
Puerto Cabezas
Rosita
Siuna
Waslala
Waspam
Mulukuku

States

State	Capital	Governor	Population	Area
Costa Rica	San José	Kevin Casas Zamora	4,195,914	51,100 km²
El Salvador	San Salvador	Ana Vilma de Escobar	7,066,403	21,040 km²
Guatemala	Guatemala City	Álvaro Colom	13,002,206	108,890 km²
Honduras	Tegucigalpa	Porfirio Lobo Sosa	7,639,327	112,492 km²
Nicaragua	Managua	Alexis Argüello	5,785,846	129,494 km²

Demographics

Age structure

0-14 years = 27.2%
15-64 years = 66.8%
65 years and over = 6%

Sex ratio

At birth = 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years = 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years = 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over = 0.86 male(s)/female
Total population = 1.02 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate

Total = 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Male = 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births
Female = 12.42 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

Total population = 77.4 years
Male = 74.79 years
Female = 80.14 years

Total fertility rate

2.17 children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6%

Nationality

Noun: Central American(s)
Adjective: Central American

Ethnic groups

Mestizo = 76.6%
Amerindian = 16.4%
White = 4.5%
Black = 2.1%
Other = 0.4%

Religions

Roman Catholic = 68.2%
Protestant = 23.5%
Jehovah's Witnesses = 0.7%
Mormon = 0.1%
Other = 1.6%
None = 5.9%

Languages

Spanish (official)
English (spoken as a second language by many educated Central Americans)
Indigenous dialects

Literacy rate

Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 91.9%
Male: 92.5%
Female: 91.2%

@@ Line 199: / Line 199: @@
 ===Political parties===
-*National Liberation Party (''Partido Liberación Nacional'')
+{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
-*Nationalist Liberal Party (''Partido Liberal Nacionalista'')
+|-style="background:#15317E; font-size: 95%;"
-*Nationalist Republican Alliance (''Alianza Republicana Nacionalista'')
+! <font color="white">Party name</font> !! <font color="white">Party leader</font> !! <font color="white">Platform</font>
-*Christian Democratic Party (''Partido Demócrata Cristiano'')
+|-
-*Citizens' Action Party (''Partido Acción Ciudadana'')
+|National Liberation Party<br>''Partido Liberación Nacional'' || Francisco Antonio Pacheco Fernández || Social democracy, democratic socialism
-*Libertarian Movement Party (''Partido Movimiento Libertario'')
+|-
-*Constitutionalist Liberal Party (''Partido Liberal Constitucionalista'')
+|Nationalist Liberal Party<br>''Partido Liberal Nacionalista'' || Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero || Populism, ''somocismo''
-*Ecologist Green Party (''Partido Verde Ecologista'')
+|-
-*Democratic Change (''Cambio Democrático'')
+|Nationalist Republican Alliance<br>''Alianza Republicana Nacionalista'' || Rodrigo Ávila || Neoliberalism, social conservatism
+|-
+|Christian Democratic Party<br>''Partido Demócrata Cristiano'' || Rodolfo Parker || Centrism, Christian democracy
+|-
+|Citizens' Action Party<br>''Partido Acción Ciudadana'' || Epsy Campbell || Progressivism, anti-corruption
+|-
+|Libertarian Movement<br>''Movimiento Libertario'' || Otto Guevara || Classical liberalism, moderate libertarianism
+|-
+|Constitutionalist Liberal Party<br>''Partido Liberal Constitucionalista'' || Jorge Quant || Liberalism, anti-''somocismo''
+|-
+|Ecologist Green Party<br>''Partido Verde Ecologista'' || Edward Martín Salazar Cruz || Green politics, ecology
+|-
+|Democratic Change<br>''Cambio Democrático'' || Héctor Miguel Antonio Dada Hirezi || Center-left
+|}
 ===The National Congress===

Provincias Unidas del Centro de América United Provinces of the Center of America


Flag	Coat of arms

Motto "Dios, Unión y Libertad" (Spanish) "God, Union and Liberty"

Anthem La Granadera



Capital Largest city	San Salvador 13°40′N, 89°10′W Guatemala City

Official languages	Spanish

Demonym	Central American

Government - President - Vice-President - President of the Congress	Federal republic Óscar Arias Rafael Espada Carlos Sosa Coello

State religion	Roman Catholic Church

Establishment - Independence from Spain - Independence from Mexico - Current constitution adopted	September 15, 1821 July 1, 1823 March 14, 1974

Area - Total - Water (%)	423,016 km² 163,362 sq mi 2.52

Population - 2008 estimate - Density	37,689,696 89/km² 231/sq mi

GDP (PPP) - Total - Per capita	2007 estimate $523 billion $13,871

GDP (nominal) - Total - Per capita	2007 estimate $540 billion $14,324

Gini (2006)	51.8 (high)

HDI (2005)	0.836 (high)

Currency	Central American real (`CAR`)

Time zone - Summer (DST)	CST (UTC -6) not observed (UTC -6)

Internet TLD	.up

Calling code	+500

Central America

From Roach Busters

Revision as of 23:31, 22 October 2008

Contents

History

Pre-colonial history

Colonization

Independence

Early republic

United States involvement (1909—1933)

The Somoza era

The 1950s: Central America on the upswing

1960s: The specter of Cuba

1970s: The crisis years

1980s—1990s: Renewal and recovery

2000—present: The second Arias administration

Economy

Politics

Political parties

The National Congress

The President

The Supreme Court of Justice

State governments

Subdivisions

Costa Rica

Alajuela

Cartago

Guanacaste

Heredia

Limón

Puntarenas

San José

El Salvador

Ahuachapán

Cabañas

Chalatenango

Cuscatlán

La Libertad

La Paz

La Unión

Morazán

San Miguel

San Salvador

San Vicente

Santa Ana

Sonsonate

Usulután

Guatemala

Alta Verapaz

Baja Verapaz

Chimaltenango

Chiquimula

El Petén

El Progreso

El Quiché

Escuintla

Guatemala

Huehuetenango

Izabal

Jalapa

Jutiapa

Quetzaltenango

Retalhuleu

Sacatepéquez

San Marcos

Santa Rosa

Sololá

Suchitepéquez

Totonicapán

Zacapa

Honduras

Atlántida

Choluteca

Colón

Comayagua

Copán

Cortés

El Paraíso

Francisco Morazán

Gracias a Dios