Conventional Long Form Name of counrty: Slovak Republic Capital City: Bratislava Type of Government: parliamentary democracy Date of Independence: 1 January 1993 National Holiday: Constitution Day, 1
September (1992) Chief of State: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004) Head of Government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 April 2012) Description of Executive Branch: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister. The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 March and 4 April 2009 (next to be held no later than April 2014); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president. Description of Legislative Branch: unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms). Description of Judicial Branch: Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council). Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Ambassador to U.S.: Ambassador Peter KMEC Location of their embassy in U.S.: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 Location of their consulates in U.S.: Los Angeles, New York Name of U.S ambassador to them: Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK Location of U.S Embassy there: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava Location of U.S consulate: Bratislava Slovakian Representation to UN: František Ružička National Symbols: double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks
Chief of State
President Ivan Gasparovic
Head of Government
Prime Minister Robert Fico
National Flag
Symbolism of Flag:three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side.