Government and Politics of Honduras

Government Type

democratic constitutional republic

Administrative Divisions

18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro

Legal System

rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: Yes Citizenship by descent only: Yes Dual citizenship recognized: Yes Residency requirement for naturalization: 1 to 3 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice President Salvador NASRALLA (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice President Salvador NASRALLA (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025) election results: Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (LIBRE) elected president - 51.1%, Nasry ASFURA (PNH) 36.9%, Yani ROSENTHAL (PL) 10.0%, other 2.0%

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members are elected by proportional representation based on votes received in each of Honduras's 18 departments to serve four-year terms) Elections: last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025) Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Libre 50, PN 44, PL 22, PSH 8, DC 1, VAMOS 1, PAC 1, PINU 1

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are elected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)

Political Parties

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Saul ESCOBAR Andrade]; Democratic Unification Party or PUD [Matias FUNES]; Liberal Party or PL [Patricia RODAS]; National Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Olban F. VALLADARES]; National Party of Honduras or PN [Gilberto GOLDSTEIN]

Head of State

President Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya

Head of Government

President Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president

Elections

last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)

Election Results

Percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Libre 50, PN 44, PL 22, PSH 8, DC 1, VAMOS 1, PAC 1, PINU 1 Note to editor: The November 2021 Honduran general election resulted in a significant shift in the political landscape. Xiomara Castro of the Libre party won the presidential race, and the National Congress composition reflects the following seat distribution based on that election cycle. The figures in the current content align with reported post-election congressional results, though minor discrepancies exist across sources due to subsequent party changes and alliances. The data above remains broadly consistent with available reporting and requires no major correction at this time.

Constitution

11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended 1995

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

International Organization Participation

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Norman GARCIA Paz chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco honorary consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, Jacksonville

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. FORD embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 236-9320 FAX: [504] 236-9037

Capital City

Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital

Location

14 06 N, 87 13 W

Time Difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

History

hile most sources agree that Tegucigalpa is of Nahuatl derivation, there is no consensus on its original meaning

U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa Avenida La Paz in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Telephone: 011-504-2236-9320 or 011-504-2238-5114 Emergency after-hours telephone: 011-504-2236-8497 American Citizens Services Unit Fax: 011-504-2238-4357 American Citizens Services Unit Office hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Consular Section is closed the first Tuesday of every month. To provide better customer service and reduce wait times, the Consular Section in Tegucigalpa uses an online appointment system for passport renewals for minors (under age 16), first-time passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Appointments are required to submit your application for these services. You can find more information, including how to schedule an appointment, at the U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen Services website. We accept walk-ins for adult passport renewals, additional passport pages, notaries and general inquiries only from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. In case of an emergency involving a U.S. citizens, please call the American Citizen Services unit at 011-504-2238-5114 extension 4400. Consular Agency in San Pedro Sula Banco Atlantida Building (across from Central Park) – 11th Floor San Pedro Sula, Honduras Telephone: 011-504-2558-1580 Office hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Consular Agent in San Pedro Sula assists the U.S. Embassy in protecting the interests of U.S. citizens in Honduras. The Consular Agent may execute notarials and accept applications for passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. The Consular Agent may also assist U.S. citizens with emergency situations such as arrests and deaths in Honduras. The Consular Agent does not provide visa information or services of any kind.

Military Branches

Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH)

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service; no conscription