Editing Uruguay (section)

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Uruguay}}
[[File:Palacio Legislativo--.JPG|thumb|[[Palacio Legislativo (Uruguay)|''Palacio Legislativo'']], Montevideo]]
Uruguay is a [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] republic with a [[presidential system]].<ref name="biz-guide"/> The members of government are elected for a five-year term by a [[universal suffrage]] system.<ref name="biz-guide"/> Uruguay is a [[unitary state]]: justice, education, health, security, foreign policy and defense are all administered nationwide.<ref name="biz-guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/innovaportal/file/528/1/business_guide_uruguay_xxi_-_november_2009.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501084128/http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/innovaportal/file/528/1/business_guide_uruguay_xxi_-_november_2009.pdf|archive-date=1 May 2011|title=Business Guide|publisher=Uruguay XXI|access-date=25 February 2011}}</ref> The executive power is exercised by the [[President of Uruguay|president]] and a [[Cabinet of Uruguay|cabinet]] of 14 ministers.<ref name="biz-guide"/>
[[File:Palacio Piria, Montevideo 05.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Palacio Piria]], seat of the Supreme Court]]

The legislative power is constituted by the [[General Assembly of Uruguay|General Assembly]], composed of [[bicameralism|two chambers]]: the [[Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay|Chamber of Representatives]], consisting of 99 members representing the 19 departments, elected for a five-year term based on [[proportional representation]]; and the [[Senate of Uruguay|Chamber of Senators]], consisting of 31 members, 30 of whom are elected for a five-year term by proportional representation, and the vice-president, who presides over the chamber and has the right to vote.<ref name="biz-guide"/>

The judicial arm is exercised by the [[Supreme Court of Uruguay|Supreme Court]], the Bench, and Judges nationwide. The members of the Supreme Court are elected by the General Assembly; the members of the Bench are selected by the Supreme Court with the consent of the Senate, and the Judges are directly assigned by the Supreme Court.<ref name="biz-guide"/>

Uruguay adopted its [[Constitution of Uruguay#Sixth Constitution (1967–1997)|current constitution]] in 1967.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/details.jsp?id=7541|title=Uruguay: The Uruguayan Constitution|via=www.wipo.int|language=en|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923194400/http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/details.jsp?id=7541|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Uruguay_2004.pdf?lang=en|title=Uruguay's Constitution of 1966, Reinstated in 1985, with Amendments through 2004|date=28 March 2017|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924001523/https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Uruguay_2004.pdf?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Many of its provisions were suspended in 1973, but reestablished in 1985. Drawing on Switzerland and its use of the initiative, the [[Constitution of Uruguay|Uruguayan Constitution]] also allows citizens to repeal laws or to change the constitution by popular initiative, which culminates in a nationwide [[referendum]]. This method has been used several times over the past 15 years: to confirm a law renouncing prosecution of members of the military who violated human rights during the military regime (1973–1985); to stop privatization of public utility companies; to defend pensioners' incomes; and to protect water resources.<ref name=cs>{{csref|country=uruguay|section=Constitutional Background|first=Rex A.|last=Hudson}} pp. [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822015230782&seq=195 152–159]</ref>

For most of Uruguay's history, the [[Colorado Party (Uruguay)|Partido Colorado]] has been in government.<ref>{{Cite book|title=A History of Organized Labor in Uruguay and Paraguay|last=Alexander|first=Robert|publisher=Praeger|year=2005|isbn=978-0275977450}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Verdesio|first=Gustavo|date=1 June 2010|title=EL DÍA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA O DOSCIENTOS AÑOS DE INCERTIDUMBRE: LA INDECIDIBILIDAD DE UNA FECHA EN EL URUGUAY POST-INDEPENDENCIA.|journal=Revista de Critica Literaria Latinoamericana, 2010|volume=36|issue=71|pages=75–99|issn=0252-8843}}</ref> However, in the [[2004 Uruguayan general election]], the [[Broad Front (Uruguay)|Broad Front]] won an [[absolute majority]] in Parliamentary elections, and in 2009, [[José Mujica]] of the Broad Front defeated [[Luis Alberto Lacalle]] of the [[National Party (Uruguay)|Blancos]] to win the [[President of Uruguay|presidency]]. In March 2020, Uruguay got a conservative government, meaning the end of 15 years of left-wing leadership under the [[Broad Front (Uruguay)|Broad Front]] coalition. At the same time, center-right [[National Party (Uruguay)|National Party]]'s [[Luis Lacalle Pou]] was sworn in as the new [[President of Uruguay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/3/2/uruguay-ushers-in-first-conservative-government-in-15-years|title=Uruguay ushers in first conservative government in 15 years|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=1 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401060808/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/3/2/uruguay-ushers-in-first-conservative-government-in-15-years|url-status=live}}</ref>

A 2010 [[Latinobarómetro]] poll found that, within Latin America, Uruguayans are among the most supportive of democracy and by far the most satisfied with the way democracy works in their country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/17627929|title=The democratic routine|date=2 December 2010|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=27 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127105647/http://www.economist.com/node/17627929|url-status=live}}</ref> Uruguay ranked 27th in the [[Freedom House]] "[[Freedom in the World]]" index. According to the [[V-Dem Democracy indices]] in 2023, Uruguay ranked 31st in the world on electoral democracy and 2nd behind Switzerland on citizen-initiated direct democracy.<ref name="vdem_dataset">{{cite journal |first8=Michael |last8=Bernhard |first9=Agnes |last9=Cornell |first10=M. Steven |last10=Fish |first11=Lisa |last11=Gastaldi |first12=Haakon |last12=Gjerløw |first13=Adam |last13=Glynn |first14=Allen |last14=Hicken |first15=Garry |last15=Hindle |first16=Nina |last16=Ilchenko |first17=Joshua |last17=Krusell |first18=Anna |last18=Lührmann |first19=Seraphine F. |last19=Maerz |first20=Kyle L. |last20=Marquardt |first21=Kelly |last21=McMann |first22=Valeriya |last22=Mechkova |first23=Juraj |last23=Medzihorsky |first24=Pamela |last24=Paxton |first25=Daniel |last25=Pemstein |first26=Josefine |last26=Pernes |first27=Johannes |last27=von Römer |first28=Brigitte |last28=Seim |first29=Rachel |last29=Sigman |first30=Svend-Erik |last30=Skaaning |first31=Jeffrey |last31=Staton |first32=Aksel |last32=Sundström |first33=Eitan |last33=Tzelgov |author34=Yi-ting Wang |first35=Tore |last35=Wig |first36=Steven |last36=Wilson |first37=Daniel |last37=Ziblatt |title=V-Dem [Country–Year/Country–Date] Dataset v11.1 |journal=Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project |url=https://doi.org/10.23696/vdemds21 |doi=10.23696/vdemds21 |last1=Coppedge |first1=Michael |last2=Gerring |first2=John |last3=Knutsen |first3=Carl Henrik |last4=Lindberg |first4=Staffan I. |last5=Teorell |first5=Jan |last6=Alizada |first6=Nazifa |last7=Altman |first7=David |date=2021 |display-authors=7 |archive-date=7 August 2023 |access-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807060439/https://www.v-dem.net/data/dataset-archive/ |url-status=dead }}.</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Departments of Uruguay}}
[[File:Departments of Uruguay (map).png|thumb|A map of the departments of Uruguay]]
Uruguay is divided into 19 [[Department (administrative division)|departments]] whose local administrations replicate the division of the executive and legislative powers.<ref name="biz-guide"/> Each department elects its own authorities through a [[Universal suffrage|universal suffrage system]].<ref name="biz-guide"/> The departmental executive authority resides in a superintendent and the legislative authority in a departmental board.<ref name="biz-guide"/>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!rowspan=2|Department
!rowspan=2|Capital
!colspan=2|Area
!rowspan=2|Population (2023 census)<ref name="pop-ine">{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.gub.uy/censos2011/index.html |title=Censos 2011 – Instituto Nacional de Estadistica |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |access-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112153208/http://www.ine.gub.uy/censos2011/index.html |archive-date=12 January 2012}}</ref>
|-
!km<sup>2</sup>
!sq mi
|-
|[[Artigas Department|Artigas]]||[[Artigas, Uruguay|Artigas]]
|{{convert|11928|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|77,487
|-
|[[Canelones Department|Canelones]]||[[Canelones, Uruguay|Canelones]]
|{{convert|4536|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|608,956
|-
|[[Cerro Largo Department|Cerro Largo]]||[[Melo, Uruguay|Melo]]
|{{convert|13648|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|91,025
|-
|[[Colonia Department|Colonia]]||[[Colonia del Sacramento]]
|{{convert|6106|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|135,797
|-
|[[Durazno Department|Durazno]]||[[Durazno]]
|{{convert|11643|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|62,011
|-
|[[Flores Department|Flores]]||[[Trinidad, Uruguay|Trinidad]]
|{{convert|5144|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|26,271
|-
|[[Florida Department|Florida]]||[[Florida, Uruguay|Florida]]
|{{convert|10417|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|70,325
|-
|[[Lavalleja Department|Lavalleja]]||[[Minas, Uruguay|Minas]]
|{{convert|10016|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|59,175
|-
|[[Maldonado Department|Maldonado]]||[[Maldonado, Uruguay|Maldonado]]
|{{convert|4793|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|212,951
|-
|[[Montevideo Department|Montevideo]]||[[Montevideo]]
|{{convert|530|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|1,302,954
|-
|[[Paysandú Department|Paysandú]]||[[Paysandú]]
|{{convert|13922|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|121,843
|-
|[[Río Negro Department|Río Negro]]||[[Fray Bentos]]
|{{convert|9282|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|57,334
|-
|[[Rivera Department|Rivera]]||[[Rivera]]
|{{convert|9370|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|109,300
|-
|[[Rocha Department|Rocha]]||[[Rocha, Uruguay|Rocha]]
|{{convert|10551|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|80,707
|-
|[[Salto Department|Salto]]||[[Salto, Uruguay|Salto]]
|{{convert|14163|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|136,197
|-
|[[San José Department|San José]]||[[San José de Mayo]]
|{{convert|4992|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|119,714
|-
|[[Soriano Department|Soriano]]||[[Mercedes, Uruguay|Mercedes]]
|{{convert|9008|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|83,685
|-
|[[Tacuarembó Department|Tacuarembó]]||[[Tacuarembó]]
|{{convert|15438|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|96,013
|-
|[[Treinta y Tres Department|Treinta y Tres]]||[[Treinta y Tres]]
|{{convert|9529|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|47,706
|- style="background:#eee;"
|'''Total'''{{NoteTag|Total does not include the {{Convert|1199|km2|abbr=on}} artificial lakes of the Rio Negro.<ref>{{citation|author1=((Unidades Geoestadísticas (UGeo) – Uruguay)) |author2=((División Servicios Técnicos, Unidad de Cartografía)) |chapter=Definiciones geoestadísticas utilizadas en el del Censo de 2004 Fase I; y del Censo de 2011 |page=2 |url=https://www.gub.uy/instituto-nacional-estadistica/datos-y-estadisticas/estadisticas/mapas-unidades-geoestadisticas-2004 |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |language=es |date=2011 |title=Mapas de Unidades Geoestadísticas 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113202553/http://www.ine.gub.uy/mapas/definiciones%20para%20web.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=13 November 2013}}. [https://www5.ine.gub.uy/documents/Cartograf%C3%ADa/Mapas%20de%20Unidades%20Geoestad%C3%ADsticas/2004/definiciones%20para%20web.pdf (Direct PDF file download)]</ref>}}||—
|{{convert|175016|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|align=right|3,499,451
|}

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Uruguay}}
[[File:Sede Del Mercosur 02.jpg|thumb|Headquarters of the [[Mercosur|Southern Common Market]], Montevideo]]
The country's foreign policy is directed by the [[Ministry of Foreign Relations (Uruguay)|Ministry of Foreign Relations]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cometidos |url=https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-relaciones-exteriores/institucional/cometidos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406201028/https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-relaciones-exteriores/institucional/cometidos |archive-date=6 April 2024 |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores |language=es }}</ref> Uruguay has traditionally had strong political and cultural ties with its neighboring countries and with Europe, and its international relations have been guided by the principles of non-intervention and multilateralism.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bizzozero Revelez |first=Lincoln |title=Uruguay y los procesos de integración regional: Trayectoria, cambios y debates |publisher=Civitas - Revista de Ciências Sociais |year=2010 |location=Porto Alegre |pages=105 |language=es |trans-title=Uruguay and regional integration processes: Trajectory, changes and debates |issn=1519-6089}}</ref> The country is a founding member of international organizations such as the [[United Nations]], the [[Organization of American States]], the [[Mercosur|Southern Common Market]], and the [[Latin American Integration Association]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Políticas e historia |url=https://uy.usembassy.gov/es/our-relationship-es/policy-history-es/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107071600/https://uy.usembassy.gov/es/our-relationship-es/policy-history-es/ |archive-date=7 November 2023 |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Embajada de Estados Unidos en Uruguay |language=es-ES |url-status=live }}</ref> The headquarters of the latter two are located in its capital [[Montevideo]], for which the role of the city has been compared to that of [[Brussels]] in Europe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Google Earth Montevideo Map |url=http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Montevideo.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328173823/http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Montevideo.htm |archive-date=28 March 2015 |access-date=5 March 2015 |publisher=One World – Nations Online Project}}</ref>
[[File:04.07.2023 - Fotografia oficial dos chefes de delegação dos países membros, Bolívia, Estados Associados e Convidados Especiais (53022344737).jpg|left|thumb|Uruguayan President [[Luis Lacalle Pou]] (second from right) at the summit of [[Mercosur]] Heads of State in 2023]]
Uruguay has two uncontested boundary disputes with Brazil, over [[Isla Brasilera]] and the {{convert|235|sqkm|abbr=on}} Invernada River region near [[Masoller]]. The two countries disagree on which tributary represents the legitimate source of the [[Quaraí River|Quaraí/Cuareim River]], which would define the border in the latter disputed section, according to the [[1851 Boundary Treaty (Brazil–Uruguay)|1851 border treaty]] between the two countries.<ref name="CIA" /> The disputed areas remain ''de facto'' under Brazilian control, with little to no actual effort by Uruguay to assert its claims. Both countries have friendly diplomatic relations and strong economic ties.

Uruguay is also a founding member of [[The Forum of Small States (FOSS)]], a voluntary and informal grouping at the UN.<ref name="singaporebook">{{Cite book |title=50 Years of Singapore and the United Nations |publisher=World Scientific |year=2015 |isbn=978-981-4713-03-0}}</ref> The country has friendly relations with the United States since its transition back to democracy.<ref name="cong-r" /> Commercial ties between both countries have expanded with the signing of a bilateral investment treaty in 2004 and a [[Trade and Investment Framework Agreement]] in January 2007.<ref name="cong-r" /> The United States and Uruguay have also cooperated on military matters, with both countries playing significant roles in the [[United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti]].<ref name="cong-r" /> In 2017, Uruguay signed the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }}</ref> It also rejoined the [[Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance]] (TIAR or "Rio Pact") in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://theglobalamericans.org/2020/03/uruguay-returns-to-the-inter-american-treaty-of-reciprocal-assistance/|title = Uruguay returns to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance|date = 19 March 2020|access-date = 6 April 2021|archive-date = 14 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210414074602/https://theglobalamericans.org/2020/03/uruguay-returns-to-the-inter-american-treaty-of-reciprocal-assistance/|url-status = live}}</ref>

=== Military ===
{{Main|Military of Uruguay}}

{{Multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = R.O.C Marine Corps M41A3 Walker Bulldog front view.jpg
| caption1          = Uruguayan Army [[M41 Walker Bulldog]] light tank monument
| image2            = Formación A-37B Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya.jpg
| caption2          = Two [[Cessna A-37 Dragonfly]] of the [[Uruguayan Air Force|Air Force]] during a flypast
}}

The [[Armed Forces of Uruguay|Uruguayan Armed Forces]] are constitutionally subordinate to the president of the Republic, through the minister of defense.<ref name="dept-state" /> Armed forces personnel number about 18,000 for the Army,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-10-22 |title=Para Jefe del Ejército, número de efectivos está en "nivel crítico" |trans-title=For the Army Chief, the number of personnel is at a "critical level" |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/para-jefe-del-ejercito-numero-de-efectivos-esta-en-nivel-critico |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210105836/https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/para-jefe-del-ejercito-numero-de-efectivos-esta-en-nivel-critico |archive-date=10 December 2023 |access-date=2024-05-05 |work=Diario El País |language=en}}</ref> 6,000 for the [[National Navy of Uruguay|Navy]], and 3,000 for the [[Uruguayan Air Force|Air Force]].<ref name="dept-state" /> Enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies.<ref name="CIA" />

Uruguay ranks first in the world on a per capita basis for its contributions to the [[United Nations peacekeeping]] forces, with 2,513 soldiers and officers in 10 UN [[peacekeeping]] missions.<ref name="dept-state"/> As of February 2010, Uruguay had 1,136 military personnel deployed to Haiti in support of [[MINUSTAH]] and 1,360 deployed in support of [[MONUC]] in the Congo.<ref name="dept-state"/> In December 2010, Uruguayan Major General Gloodtdofsky, was appointed Chief Military Observer and head of the [[United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/23/uruguayan-major-general-appointed-head-of-un-mission-in-india-and-pakistan|title=Uruguayan Major General appointed head of UN mission in India and Pakistan|date=23 December 2010|publisher=MercoPress|access-date=23 February 2011|archive-date=28 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228135451/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/12/23/uruguayan-major-general-appointed-head-of-un-mission-in-india-and-pakistan|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since May 2009, homosexuals have been allowed to serve in the military after the defense minister signed a decree stating that military recruitment policy would no longer discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/uruguay-to-lift-ban-on-ga_n_203004.html Uruguay To Lift Ban On Gays In The Military] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035552/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/uruguay-to-lift-ban-on-ga_n_203004.html|date=4 March 2016}}. Huffingtonpost.com (13 May 2009). Retrieved on 25 June 2012.</ref> In the fiscal year 2010, the United States provided Uruguay with $1.7&nbsp;million in military assistance, including $1&nbsp;million in [[Foreign Military Financing]] and $480,000 in [[International Military Education and Training]].<ref name="cong-r" />

=== Law enforcement ===
{{excerpt|National Police of Uruguay}}