government: federal presidential republic

state of civil and political rights: Not free

constitution: 30 December 1999; amended 2009; in 2016, President Maduro issued a decree to hold an election to form a constituent assembly to change the constitution; the election in July 2017 approved the formation of a 545-member constituent assembly and elected its delegates, empowering them to change the constitution and dismiss government institutions and officials

legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code; has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

legislative system: unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)

judicial system: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (consists of 32 judges organized into constitutional, political-administrative, electoral, civil appeals, criminal appeals, and social divisions); Superior or Appeals Courts (Tribunales Superiores); District Tribunals (Tribunales de Distrito); Courts of First Instance (Tribunales de Primera Instancia); Parish Courts (Tribunales de Parroquia); Justices of the Peace (Justicia de Paz) Network

religion: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

death row:

year of last executions: 0-0-0

death sentences: 0

executions: 0