cted by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of
vote--NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic or
Congreso de la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (52 seats,
two from each state and the federal district (46), one for each of
the retired presidents, and others representing minorities (6);
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (207 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA
December 2003); Chamber of Deputies--last held 6 December 1998 (next
to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--AD 16, COPEI 14, Causa R 9, National Convergence 5, MAS 3,
independents 5; note--two former presidents (1 from AD, 1 from COPEI)
hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by
party--AD 25.6%, COPEI 24.6%, MAS 10.6%, National Convergence 8.7%,
Causa R 19.3%; seats by party--AD 53, COPEI 51, Causa R 40, MAS 22,
National Convergence 18, other 23

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session
for a nine-year term, one-third are reelected every three years

Political parties and leaders: National Convergence or
Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general];
ALFARO Ucero, secretary general]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS

Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, a
conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or
CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS
groups

International organization participation: CAN, Caricom
(observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Mi