Government and Politics of Romania

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Klaus IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014; reelected 24 November 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Marcel CIOLACU (since 15 June 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and confirmed by Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of Parliament election results: In the November 2019 presidential runoff, Klaus IOHANNIS won reelection with approximately 66.1% of the vote, defeating challenger Viorica DANCILA who received approximately 33.9%

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (136 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (330 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) Elections: Senate - last held on 1 December 2024 (next expected to be held in December 2028); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 1 December 2024 (next expected to be held in December 2028) Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - AUR 17.9%, PSD 16.4%, POT 14.4%, PNL 13.3%, USR 11.9%, UDMR 5.8%, other 20.3%; seats by party - AUR 31, PSD 24, POT 21, PNL 20, USR 16, UDMR 8, other 16; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - AUR 18.4%, PSD 15.8%, POT 14.2%, PNL 13%, USR 12.2%, UDMR 5.8%, other 20.6%; seats by party - AUR 65, PSD 54, POT 46, PNL 47, USR 40, UDMR 22, ethnic minorities and other 56

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed for three-year terms by the president in consultation with the Superior Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by their peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates elections and makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of laws, treaties, ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it is comprised of nine members serving nine-year terms, with three members each appointed by the president, the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies

Political Parties

Conservative Party or PC [Dan VOICULESCU], formerly Humanist Party or PUR; Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu-TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA], formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR

Head of State

President Klaus IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014

Head of Government

Prime Minister Marcel CIOLACU

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

Elections

Senate - last held on 1 December 2024 (next expected to be held in December 2028); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 1 December 2024 (next expected to be held in December 2028)

Election Results

Senate - percent of vote by party - AUR 17.9%, PSD 16.4%, POT 14.4%, PNL 13.3%, USR 11.9%, UDMR 5.8%, other 20.3%; seats by party - AUR 31, PSD 24, POT 21, PNL 20, USR 16, UDMR 8, other 16; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - AUR 18.4%, PSD 15.8%, POT 14.2%, PNL 13%, USR 12.2%, UDMR 5.8%, other 20.6%; seats by party - AUR 65, PSD 54, POT 46, PNL 47, USR 40, UDMR 22, ethnic minorities and other 56

Constitution

8-Dec-91

Independence

9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from Turkey; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)

National Holiday

Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Sorin Dumitru DUCARU chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) telephone: [40] (21) 316-4052 FAX: [40] (21) 316-0395 branch office(s): Cluj-Napoca

Capital City

Bucharest

Location

44 26 N, 26 06 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

related to the Romanian word "bucura" that is believed to be of Dacian origin and whose meaning is "to be glad (happy)"; Bucharest's meaning is thus akin to "city of joy"

U.S. Embassy Bucharest B-dul Dr. Liviu Librescu Nr. 4-6 Sector 1, Bucharest 015118 Romania Telephone: (40) 21 200-3300 and/or (40) 21 270-6000 Emergency after-hours telephone: (40) 21 200-3433 Fax: (40) 21 200-3578 Email: ACSBucharest@state.gov

Military Branches

Land Forces, Naval Forces (Fortele Naval, FN), Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aeriene Romane, FAR)

Service Age and Obligation

20-35 years of age for compulsory male military service; conscription ended 2006, but military service remains mandatory; 18 years of age for male and female voluntary service; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36