Political System

According to the Constitution adopted in 1991, Romania is a parliamentary republic. Democratic rights and freedom are guaranteed by the Constitution.
Romania is a multi-political party state – many parties are currently registered, but only important ones are represented in the Parliament.

The President
The president of Romania is elected by direct, popular vote for a maximum of two five-year terms. He or she represents the country in matters of foreign affairs and is the commander of the armed forces. According to the 1991 constitution, the president may not belong to any political party.
The actual president of Romania is Mr. Traian Basescu (since 12 December 2004).

The Executive Authority
The president appoints a prime minister to head the government. The prime minister is generally the leader of the party with the majority of seats in parliament. The prime minister is responsible for selecting a cabinet to help carry out the operations of government.
The actual prime minister of Romania is Mr. Calin Popescu Tariceanu (since 29 December 2004).

The Legislative Authority
Romania is a parliamentary republic with two chambers - The Senate and The Chamber of Deputies. Members of both houses of parliament are elected for four-year terms, according to a modified system of proportional representation. The ethnic minorities also have representation.

The Judiciary Authority
The Supreme Court is Romania's highest judicial authority. Its members are appointed by the president at the proposal of the Superior Council of Magistrates. In each of Romania's 40 counties and in the special district of Bucharest there is a county court and several lower courts, or courts of first instance. The country also has 15 circuits of appellate courts, in which appeals against sentences passed by local courts are heard; there is a right of appeal from the appellate courts to the Supreme Court. Romania has a Constitutional Court, charged with ensuring a balance of power among the organs of government. The procurator-general is the highest judicial official in Romania, and is responsible to the Parliament, which appoints him or her for a four-year term. The death penalty was abolished in December 1989 and is forbidden by the 1991 Constitution.

The National Day
The National Day of Romania or Union Day (Ziua Unirii) occurring on December 1, is the national holiday of Romania.
This holiday was set after the 1989 Romanian Revolution and it marks the 1918 unification of the Romanian Kingdom with Transylvania.