Conventional Long Form Name of country - Republic of the Congo Capital City(ies)- Brazzaville
Type of Government - Republic
Date of Independence - 15 August 1960
National Holiday(s)- Independence Day, 15 August
Chief of State (official public face of government) - President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso
Head of Government (actual leader of government) - President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso
Executive Branch/Powers - president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
Legislative Branch/Powers - bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (72 seats; members elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (139 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Judicial Branch/Powers - Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Suffrage (who is allowed to vote) - 18 years of age; universal
Name of Ambassador to the U.S.- Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
Location of embassy in the U.S.- Washington, DC
Location(s) of consulate(s) in the U.S.- None
U.S. Ambassador- Ambassador Christopher W. MURRAY
Location of U.S. Embassy there - Brazzaville;
Location of U.S. Consulate There - None
Representative to U.N. - Raymond-Serge Balé
National Symbols - lion; elephant
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; green symbolizes agriculture and forests, yellow the friendship and nobility of the people, red is unexplained but has been associated with the struggle for independence