From the Economist

link:

http://www.economist.com/countries/v...

Official name

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Form of government

Federal republic comprising 72 federal dependencies, 23 states, two federal territories and one federal district

The executive

The president is elected for a six-year term, for a maximum of two consecutive terms, and appoints a Council of Ministers; after a shortened term beginning in 1999, Hugo Chavez Frias began a fresh six-year term in July 2000 and a second full consecutive term in December 2006

National legislature

167-member unicameral National Assembly, headed by the president, which replaced the bicameral Congress abolished by the new constitution adopted in December 1999

Legal system

Supreme Justice Tribunal at the apex of the court system appoints judges and magistrates in consultation with civil society groups

National elections

December 2006 (presidential); December 2005 (legislative). A revocatory referendum took place in August 2004, as provided for under the 1999 constitution, and ratified Mr Chavez in power. Next election due December 2010 (legislative)

Main political organisations

Government: Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR), plus a number of smaller political parties. The Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV) has been created to unite the MVR with other pro-Chavez parties, but some parties will remain outside this grouping

Opposition parties: Accion Democratica (AD); the Comite de Organizacion Politica Electoral Independiente (COPEI); MAS; Primero Justicia (PJ); La Causa Radical (LCR); Convergencia Nacional (CN); Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT)

President: Hugo Chavez Frias

Vice-president: Ramon Carrizales

Office of the presidency: Jesse Chacon

Key ministers

Basic industry & mining: Rodolfo Sanz

Communications & information: Andres Izarra

Defence: General Gustavo Rangel

Education: Adan Chavez Frias

Energy & oil: Rafael Ramirez

Environment & natural resources: Yubiri Ortega

Finance: Rafael Isea

Foreign affairs: Nicolas Maduro

Health & social development: Jesus Mantilla Oliveros

Infrastructure: Jose David Cabello

Interior & justice: Ramon Rodriguez Chacin

Labour: Jose Ramon Rivero

Light industry & trade: William Antonio Contreras

Planning & development: Haiman El Troudi

Popular participation: Erika Farias

Science & technology: Hector Navarro

Tourism: Olga Azuaje

Central Bank governor

Gaston Parra Luzardo