| Language
The official language is Romanian, a language of Latin origin having much in common with the Italian and Spanish. It uses a latin alphabet. One fact worth mentioning is that Romanian is the only Latin language in Eastern Europe, as the others generally have a Slavonic origin. This is due to the fact that once this teritory was part of the Roman Empire. To find out more, check the history section. Beside Romanian, you can hear Hungarian, German, Serbian and Turkish, spoken by the corresponding minorities of the Romanian people.
Currency
Romanian currency is called "LEU" [leu] (plural "LEI" [lei]). Check the current exchange rate.
The State
Digraph: RO
Romania is a republic and its capital is Bucharest.
The teritory is divided into 40 counties.
Since December 8, 1991 Romania has a new Constitution inspired by the Constitution of France's Fifth Republic.
Suffrage is universal. 18 years of age required.
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 December 2000)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 November 2000, with runoff between the top two candidates held 10 December 2000 (next to be held NA November/December 2004); prime minister appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Adrian NASTASE (since 29 December 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
election results: percent of vote - Ion ILIESCU 66.84%, Corneliu Vadim TUDOR 33.16%
Legislative branch:
Bicameral Parliament consisting of Senate and Deputy Chamber.
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice
Constitutional Court
Diplomatic representation in US:
Chief of the Romanian mission is Ambassador Mircea Geoana.
Chancery 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748.
Romania has two general consulates in the US: Los Angeles and New York .
US diplomatic representation in Romania:
Chief of the American mission: Ambassador Rosapepe.
Embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest, mailing address: American Consulate General (Bucharest), Unit 1315, Bucharest;
APO AE 09213-1315
telephone: [40] (1) 210 01 49, 210 40 42
FAX: [40] (1) 210 03 95
Another branch office is in Cluj-Napoca.
The Parliament
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (140 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (345 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held in the fall of 2004); Chamber of Deputies - last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held in the fall of 2004)
The Army
The Romanian Army is composed of: Terestrial Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense.
Military service is compulsory for all males at age 20. |
