Government
Type: Constitutional Republic.
Independence: May 1811.
Constitution: June 1992.
Branches: Executive--President. Legislative--Senate and Chamber of Deputies. Judicial--Supreme Court of Justice.
Administrative subdivisions: 17 departments, 1 capital city.
Political parties: National Republican Association (Colorado), Authentic Radical Liberal, National Encounter, País Solidario, and numerous smaller parties not represented in Congress.
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75.

Government of Paraguay
Paraguay's highly centralized government was fundamentally changed by the 1992 constitution, which provides for a division of powers. The president, popularly elected for a 5-year term, appoints a cabinet. The next presidential election was held in April 2003. Nicanor Duarte Frutos was inaugurated as the Colorado candidate President on August 15, 2003. The bicameral Congress consists of an 80-member Chamber of Deputies and a 45-member Senate, elected concurrently with the president through a proportional representation system. Deputies are elected by department and senators nationwide. Paraguay's highest judicial body is the Supreme Court. Each of Paraguay's 17 departments is headed by a popularly elected governor.
source: http://www.state.gov