By Jason Chavis
Facts About Guatemala
The Republic of Guatemala has a long history. It was originally populated by Mayans and Toltec, but Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado claimed the land for Spain in 1524. For centuries, it operated as a colony of the Spanish empire until its independence. It dealt with long periods of military rule, including death squads and militia groups throughout the 20th century. Guatemala is a developing nation with medium-level economic growth.
Identification
The name for the country of Guatemala stems from the Maya-Toltec language rather than Spanish, like many of the other nations in Central America. Guatemala means "land of the trees."
Features
Guatemala is a democratic republic, with a single legislative house. The executive branch is led by a president who acts as both head of government and chief of state. The president is responsible for appointing a council of ministers. The legal system is based on civil law and practices judicial review.
History
Guatemala secured its independence from Spain on September 15, 1821, as a founding member of the the United Provinces of Central America. This union collapsed in 1839, leaving Guatemala a sovereign nation.
Considerations
The modern constitution was ratified on May 31, 1985 and put into action on January 14, 1986. For a brief period between May 25 and June 5, 1993, the constitution was suspended by President Serrano. He was ultimately ousted and the document was reinstated.
Significance
According to statistics from a 2008 survey conducted by the Guatemalan government, 37.3 percent of the population survive of the equivalent of two U.S. dollars per day. Only one percent of the population can afford telecommunications devices such as cellular phones and the Internet.
Resources
About the Author:
Jason lives and works out of Minneapolis. After 11 years of professional writing, he is the author of four books, two movies and a play as well as numerous articles for Scientific American, The History Channel, City Pages and The Onion. Jason is a graduate of the film school at USC.
Photo Credits:
Nightstallion, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Guatemala.svg
