Panama, known conventionally as the Republic of Panama, has a government type known as a presidential republic; this means that Panama's government is a democratic and republican government in which a head of government leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch. The nation's capital is Panama City, and Panama is made up of 10 provinces -- Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, Panama Oeste, and Veraguas -- and 3 indigenous regions -- Embera-Wounaan, Guna Yala, and Ngobe-Bugle.
Panama gained its independence from Colombia on November 3, 1903, and the country's constitution has been amended several times; the last change took effect on October 11, 1972. In Panama, the legal voting age is 18, and people can become citizens from birth or from descent, but dual citizenship is not recognized. If not a citizen at birth, it is required that a person live in Panama for 5 years before they can become naturalized.
Panama gained its independence from Colombia on November 3, 1903, and the country's constitution has been amended several times; the last change took effect on October 11, 1972. In Panama, the legal voting age is 18, and people can become citizens from birth or from descent, but dual citizenship is not recognized. If not a citizen at birth, it is required that a person live in Panama for 5 years before they can become naturalized.
Panama is a multi-party country, though its government is made up of 4 main parties; the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), the Democratic Change (CD), the Panameñista Party (PP), and the Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA). Out of 71 seats in Panama's house, 35 are occupied by deputies from the PRD, 18 from the CD, 8 from the PP, 5 from the MOLIRENA, and 5 from other parties.
The PRD believes in social democracy, which is a socialist system of government achieved by democratic means, whereas the CD believes in liberal conservatism, which is a political ideology combining conservative policies with liberal stances. On the other hand, the PP believes in national conservatism, which is a variant of conservatism, while the MOLIRENA believes in liberalism, which is a political and moral philosophy based on liberty, consent of the governed and equality before the law.
The PRD believes in social democracy, which is a socialist system of government achieved by democratic means, whereas the CD believes in liberal conservatism, which is a political ideology combining conservative policies with liberal stances. On the other hand, the PP believes in national conservatism, which is a variant of conservatism, while the MOLIRENA believes in liberalism, which is a political and moral philosophy based on liberty, consent of the governed and equality before the law.