United Provinces of Central America

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Provincias Unidas del Centro de América United Provinces of Central 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	Federal presidential republic Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero José Rizo Castellón
Establishment	December 17, 1823
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 $547 billion $14,500
GDP (nominal)  - Total  - Per capita	2007 estimate $490 billion $13,000
Gini (2006)	49.8 (high)
HDI (2005)	0.846 (high)
Currency	Central American real (CAR)
Time zone - Summer (DST)	CST (UTC -6) not observed (UTC -6)
Internet TLD	.up
Calling code	+500

The United Provinces of Central America (Spanish: Provincias Unidas del Centro de América) 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).

A 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. Though religious freedom is protected by law and the majority of Central Americans are tolerant of other faiths, the Roman Catholic Church wields considerable influence. Although the country is officially secular, the constitution requires that the President be a Catholic.

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, poverty persists in some areas, and income 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 15 September 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 5 January 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 1 July 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.

Politics

Presidency

Casa Presidencial (Presidential House).

Executive responsibilities are vested in a president, who is the country's center of power. There is also a vice-president and a cabinet. Presidents are elected by direct popular vote for seven-year terms and are limited to one term only. The president serves as both the head of state and the head of government. In the event that the president dies in office, is removed from office, is incapacitated, or unable to complete his term for any other reason, the vice-president assumes the presidency. The president's duties and functions are as follows:

1. The president oversees the day-to-day management of the federal government.
2. The president serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
3. The president appoints federal civil servants and military officers.
4. All federal laws must be signed by the president before they can come into effect (although the National Assembly can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 or greater majority).
5. The president takes part in foreign visits and receives foreign dignitaries. He or she also concludes treaties with foreign nations (although the Senate must approve said treaties), accredits Central American diplomats, and receives the letters of accreditation of foreign diplomats.
6. The president grants pardons if the person concerned had been convicted under federal jurisdiction, and confers decorations and honors.
7. The president may, in the event of a national emergency, declare a State of Emergency, rule by decree, and dissolve the National Assembly for up to 60 days, but only with prior approval by both houses of the National Assembly.

The President's official residence is the Casa Presidencial (English: "Presidential House") in San Salvador.

National Assembly

The legislative branch of the federal government consists of a bicameral National Assembly, made up of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, which makes federal law, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse, and has the power of impeachment, by which it can remove sitting members of the government. Both houses of the National Assembly convene in the National Palace (Palacio Nacional).

The National Palace.

Chamber of Deputies

The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the National Assembly. Members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis from party lists. Members serve for five-year terms and can serve for an unlimited number of terms. It has the power to initiate legislation. There are currently 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies.

Senate

The upper house of the National Assembly is the Senate, whose purpose is to represent the states at the federal level. Each state is represented by 4 senators, giving the Senate a total of 20 members. Unlike the Chamber of Deputies, whose members are directly elected, the Senate's members are chosen by the state legislatures. Though the Senate can block or defer bills, it cannot initiate bills. The Senate must provide its consent to senior government appointments. Senators serve for life.

National Assembly seats by party

Supreme Court of Justice

The Supreme Court of Justice.

Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Justice, composed of 22 magistrates selected for renewable 8-year terms by the National Assembly, and subsidiary courts. A Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, established in 1989, reviews the constitutionality of legislation and executive decrees and all habeas corpus warrants.

Political parties

Major parties

• Nationalist Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Nacionalista, or PLN)
  • The historic rival of the Conservative Party, the PLN represents the interests of artisans and workers. After over a century of conflict with the Conservatives, the Liberals achieved long-term power in the mid-1930s, when General Anastasio Somoza García became president. It has won every election since then. While the ideological differences between the two parties are rather negligible, the PLN vaguely represents labor and social programs, while the Conservatives vaguely represent certain business sectors and are closely affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The current party leader is Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero, who is also the current President.
    
    
• Conservative Party (Spanish: Partido Conservador, or PC)
  • The Conservative Party represents the interests of cattle-raisers and merchants. The PC has been the official opposition since the mid-1930s. The PC represents important business sectors and advocates a return to the Church-state relationship that would give the Catholic Church more power in the country by making it the official religion of the Federal Republic of Central America. Its official motto is "God, Order, and Justice." The party's current leader is Antonio Saca.

Minor parties

• Social Democratic Party (Spanish: Partido Social Demócrata, or PSD)
  • The PSD draws most of its support from Costa Rica. About half of the party's members subscribe to the "third way," ideology, just under a third are democratic socialists, and the remainder support a "social market" economic system. The current party leader is Óscar Arias, the Governor of Costa Rica. The PSD is a member of Socialist International.
    
    
• Libertarian Movement Party (Spanish: Partido Movimiento Libertario, or PML)
  • A recently founded classical liberal/libertarian party, the PML is led by Costa Rican politician Otto Guevara, a Harvard graduate.
    
    
• Popular Social Christian Party (Spanish: Partido Popular Social Cristiano, or PPSC)
  • A Christian democratic party, the PPSC is generally right-wing/conservative on social issues (anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, etc.) while economically it supports a "social market" economy. Led by Abel Pacheco, the party holds membership in the Christian Democrat International.
    
    
• National Action Party (Spanish: Partido de Acción Nacional, or PAN)
  • A moderate/centrist party, the PAN is known for putting pragmatism above ideology and denouncing "extremism" on both sides of the political spectrum. The party leader is Augusto Guzmán.
    
    
• Agricultural Labor Action Party (Spanish: Partido Acción Laborista Agrícola, or PALA)
  • A center-left agrarian labor party based mainly in Costa Rica. It is led by Silviano Mercado.
    
    
• Democratic Change (Spanish: Cambio Democrático, or CD)
  • A newly formed political party with no defined ideology, whose platform only states that "Our goal is to end the two-party monpoly that has endured in our homeland for over a century." The party's current leader is Eduardo Arévalo.
    
    
• Ecologist Green Party (Spanish: Partido Verde Ecologista, or PVE)
  • A green party founded in 2003, the PVE holds membership in the Federation of the Green Parties of the Americas. Its founder and leader is Nicaraguan politician Edward Martín Salazar Cruz.
    
    
• Constitutionalist Liberal Party (Spanish: Partido Liberal Constitucionalista, or PLC)
  • The Constitutionalist Liberal Party was formed in 1968 by former members of the Nationalist Liberal Party who became disillusioned by the Somoza family's dominance over the PLN. Like the PLN, the PLC is harshly anticommunist. Its current leader is José Somarriba.
    
    
• Social Conservative Party (Spanish: Partido Social Conservador, or PSC)
  • A conservative, right-wing party founded in 1988, it is led by octogenarian politician Fernando Agüero, who was the Conservative Party's candidate for president in 1966. The PSC was founded by Agüero and a small number of his supporters after he left the Conservative Party over "personal differences."
    
    
• Multiethnic Indigenist Party (Spanish: Partido Indígena Multiétnico, or PIM)
  • A center-left party founded to represent the interests of indigenous Central Americans, the party is most popular in rural Guatemala. Its leader is Otilia Lux de Cotí, a former member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Administrative divisions

Culture

Central America enjoys rich diversity in people and cultures. The Roman Catholic Church, which claims more than 3/4 of the population as adherents, wields a strong influence on the country's society and politics. Much of the population is staunchly conservative on social issues, to such an extent that the Federal Republic of Central America is the only nation in the world where abortion is illegal without exception - even when the mother's life is in danger. Divorce and homosexuality are also cultural taboos; in fact, under the Sodomy Act, sodomy was punishable by up to two years' imprisonment at hard labor, however, enforcement of the law became increasingly lax with the passage of time, and in October 2007, it was finally repealed.

Rare is the political apathy so prevalent in the Western world: elections are festive, lively, heatedly discussed occasions, and voter turn-out is among the highest in the world. Central Americans, whatever their political views, tend to show great patriotism and much love for their country.

Nearly every Central American is rabidly enthusiastic for sports, especially fútbol (soccer), which can only be described as a national obsession, enjoyed by Central Americans of every age, race, class, gender, and creed. The nation's love of sports is not confined solely to soccer, however; baseball, basketball, hunting, and fishing are also popular.

Central Americans are said to be a warm and hospitable people, and the majority of tourists who come to the country leave with a favorable impression, describing the Central Americans as gracious hosts and charming, amiable people.

Indigenous Central Americans are famous for their colorful and elaborate clothing, fascinating stories and legends, and the world-captivating temples and pyramids built by their forefathers.