11/26/06: Ecuador Presidential Runoff Election (Click here for the latest news)

• Population (July 2006): 13,547,510
• Literacy: 92.5% (total population)
• Government Type: Republic
• Suffrage: Universal (18 years of age; compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters)
  

• Executive Branch: President Alfredo Palacio (Chief of State, Head of Government), Vice President Nicanor Alejandro Serrano Aguilar
  
  
• Legislative Branch: Unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional
  
  National Congress or Congreso Nacional
  
  
• Electoral System:
  
  Executive: The president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms)
  Legislative: 100 seats; members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms
  
  
• Political Parties:
  Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP)
  Democratic Left (ID)
  National Action Institutional Renewal Party (PRIAN)
  Pachakutik Movement
  Patriotic Society Party (PSP)
  Popular Democracy (DP)
  Popular Democratic Movement (MPD)
  Radical Alfarista Front (FRA)
  Roldosist Party (PRE)
  Social Christian Party (PSC)
  Socialist Party (Broad Front or PS-FA)

Information Provided By : CIA World Fact Book, Ecuador