Costa Rica

1
Costa Rica

• By Megan Gill

2
Basic Facts

• Formal Name Republic of Costa Rica
• Population 4,016,173 (July 2005)
• Capital Religion Roman Catholic
• San Government Democratic
• José Republic
• Total Area 51,022 sq. kilometers (smaller than
  West Virginia)
  
• Ethnicity 94 White, 3 Black, 1 Chinese, 1
  Amerindian, 1 other

3
Independence Day

• Gained Independence from Spain on
• September 15, 1821

4
Success Story

• Costa Rica is an exception within the region
  because of its stable democratic tradition.
  
• -The most democratic country in Central Latin
  America
  
• -Only two brief periods of violence have spoiled
  its democratic development

5
Political Parties

• Before 1948-
• -the Reform Party founded in 1921
• -Communist Party founded in 1931 changed
• its name to the Popular Vanguard Party in 1943
• After Civil War-
• National Libertarian Party (PLN)- Dominate Party
  from 1947- 1998
  
• Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)- founded in
  1983

6
Election Civil War of 1948

• Election of 48- Utilio Ulate elected to office
• -President Picado refused to step down from
  office
  
• - said that election was a fraud
• -thus giving Don Pepe the perfect time to
  attack
  
• Civil War lead by Jose Figueres (a.k.a. Don Pepe)
  
  
• -Lasted for 5 weeks
• -2,000 Costa Ricans died

7
1949 Constitution

• All citizens are guaranteed equality before the
  law
  
• Right to own property, to petition and assembly
• Freedom of speech
• Right of habeas corpus
• Divided the government into independent
  executive, legislative and judicial branches
  
• Abolished Military
• Gave women the right to vote
• Reduced voting age to 20 (1971- reduced to 18)
• Gave full citizenship rights to the black
  population
  
• Nationalized Banks and insurance companies
• Created the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones

8
Role of the Military

• Abolished army in 1940s
• Constitution prohibits formation

9
National Elections

• First Sunday in February every 4 years
• To participate in a national election, a party
  must submit a petition with 3,000 signatures of
  registered voters.
  
• Presidential candidate must receive 40 of the
  votes cast if no candidate achieves this than a
  runoff election is held 2 months later by the 2
  candidates who received the most votes.
• President assumes office on May 8th 3 months
  after election

10
Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE)

• A permanent independent body that controls
  administers the election machinery.
  
• Made up of 3 magistrates and 3 alternates
• Selected at staggered intervals of 6 yrs. by a
  2/3 vote of the Supreme Court of Justice
  
• Requirements include a law degree 10 years of
  legal experience

11
Civil Liberties Human Rights

• Civil liberties enacted w/ the 1949 Constitution
• -Freedom of Press, Speech, Assembly
• Human Rights are highly respected
• - Rarely violations are heard about

12
Role of Public Education

• Literacy Population 96
• In 1869 education became both free and
  obligatory, funded by the states share of the
  great coffee wealth
  
• 28 of national budget spent on the countries
  4,000 schools
  
• A charge of 20 a year to go to school
• Most students go to college on scholarships

13
Future Elections

• The next general elections are February 5, 2006.
  
  
• Surveys say the distribution of votes support two
  candidates Oscar Arias, former president and
  Nobel Peace Prize 1987, from the National
  Liberation Party (PLN), and Ottón Solís candidate
  of the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC).