Conventional Long Name: Republic of Haiti
Capital City: Port-au-Prince Type of Government: republic Independence day: 1 January 1804 (from France) National Holiday: Independence Day, 1 January. Celebrated by migration to Port-au-Prince, various parades, and fireworks. Also, the custom of eating soup (formerly a French-only food during the time of French control) as a sign of equality for all. Head of Government: Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe |
Chief of State: President Michel Martelly
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The executive branch is divided into the president and what is referred to as the government headed by the prime minister. The president is elected to nonconsecutive 5 year terms by popular vote and he appoints a prime minister from either the majority party in the Assemblee Nationale (National Assembly) or if there is no majority on consultation with the Assemblee Nationale. The president also signs and approves treaties to send to the Assemblee Nationale, controls most foreign affairs, and declares war. The prime minister enforces law and declares policy and also appoints cabinet members on consultation with the president.
The legislative branch consists of the bicameral Assemblee Nationale, which contains a Senate of 30 seats elected by popular vote to 6 year terms and a Chamber of Deputies of 99 seats elected by popular vote to 4 year terms. The legislative branch puts forth all law in Haiti with the exception of taxation, budget, and revenue law, which is submitted by the president on approval of the House of Deputies.
The judiciary branch consists of the Cour de Cassation (Supreme Court), which has a chief justice and other justices. Justices are appointed by the president from a list submitted by the Senate. Although in theory separate, the executive branch exerts great power over the judicial branch and ensures it has little actual power.
The legislative branch consists of the bicameral Assemblee Nationale, which contains a Senate of 30 seats elected by popular vote to 6 year terms and a Chamber of Deputies of 99 seats elected by popular vote to 4 year terms. The legislative branch puts forth all law in Haiti with the exception of taxation, budget, and revenue law, which is submitted by the president on approval of the House of Deputies.
The judiciary branch consists of the Cour de Cassation (Supreme Court), which has a chief justice and other justices. Justices are appointed by the president from a list submitted by the Senate. Although in theory separate, the executive branch exerts great power over the judicial branch and ensures it has little actual power.
Suffrage: 18 yrs universal
Chief of Mission to U.S.A.:Ambassador Paul Getty Altidor Chancery location in U.S.A.: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Consulate Locations: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) U.S. Chief of Mission to Haiti: Ambassador Pamela A. White U.S. Embassy in Haiti: Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince There are no general U.S. consulates in Haiti. Permanent Representative to U.N.: Ambassador Jean Wesley Cazeau |
The scroll bears the motto L'Union Fait la Force (Union Makes Strength). The colors are from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks and mulattoes.
National symbol: Hispaniolan trogon International Disputes: Since 2004 U.N. peacekeepers have kept civil order. Haitians illegally migrate to the Dominican Republic and sail to other countries from there. Haiti claims the U.S.-administered Navassa Island. Refugees: N/A Internally Displaced persons: 171,974 currently living in camps after the 2010 earthquake. Stateless persons: N/A Human Trafficking: Haiti is a source, transit, and destination for forced labor and prostitution. Haitian children are given hope of living in new towns with women to go to school but instead become restaveks. These restaveks make up many of Haiti's street children who are forced into prostitution, begging, and street crime by violent gangs. Haitians are often forced into labor in the Dominican Republic, U.S., and parts of the Caribbean. Illicit Drug Issues: transshipment point for cocaine to U.S. and Europe. Much cash smuggling. Favored for illicit monetary transactions by Colombian narcotics dealers. Significant cannabis consumer. |