Portugals Government

Head of State: President Anibal Cavaco Silva

Head of Government: Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho
Portugals president is the Head of State. This means he is able to veto
laws, dissolve parliament, and set the date for new elections, if necessary.
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government and is usually the leader of
parliaments majority (most # of people) party or combination of political
parties. There are 230 elected lawmakers in Portugal and the legal voting
age is 18.

President Silva

PM

Coelho
Veto: a vote that blocks a decision made my lawmakers
Dissolve Parliament: lawmakers in Parliament essentially lose their jobs
until a new election can be held

Portugals Educational System

Adult Literacy Rate: 95.2%

Many children are enrolled in preschool from a young age. Education begins
at age six and is mandatory through the ninth grade. Private schools and free
public schools are available. After elementary school, students may attend
three years of high school and three years of college preparation, or two to
four years of vocational schooling that also incorporates some college
preparatory courses. There are 18 universities in Portugal. Public universities
charge a small tuition, but admission is limited and access to vocations such

as medicine is highly competitive. The University of Coimbra, founded in the

13th century, is one of the oldest in Europe.

Portugals Climate
Area (sq mi): 35,556
Portugal is on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with
Spain. Portugal's total land area is slightly smaller than Hungary or the U.S.
state of Indiana. The Portuguese Republic includes the mainland, the Madeira
Archipelago (west of Morocco), and the Azores (Aores) Archipelago (about
800 miles, or 1,290 kilometers, off the Atlantic coast).
The Tagus (Tejo) River, which leads from Spain to Lisbon, divides the country
into two zones. The north features Iberian mountain ranges, such as the
Serra da Estrela. The climate is cool and rainy, though summers may be
warm. Seasonal temperatures vary by elevation. In the south, the terrain is
less rugged, formed by hills and valleys. The southern climate is warmer and
more moderate because of the influence of the Mediterranean Sea. Long dry
seasons occur in some southern areas. About a tenth of the land is suitable
for agriculture, and about a third is covered with forests, some of which have
been cultivated for timber.

Portugals Recreation
Sports
Soccer is by far the most popular sport in Portugal. Running and playing
basketball are also favorite activities. During their leisure time, people like to
listen to music or watch television, particularly soccer matches or Brazilian
and Portuguese soap operas. Other activities include socializing at sidewalk
cafs, going to movies, and dancing at nightclubs or discos.
Leisure
Local recreation clubs offer dances, games, and other events. Families like to
take walks, go to the park, and picnic. Many see going to one of Portugal's
beautiful beaches as an essential part of summer.
Vacation
During the summer, many Portuguese try to spend at least two weeks away
from home visiting relatives or camping. More Portuguese are beginning to
travel abroad during vacations. Portugal is known for its tradition with
horses.

Christiano Ronaldo, Portugals most famous

soccer(football) player.

Portugals Economy
Portugal's economy has seen significant development since joining the
European Community in 1986. Even though economic changes helped urban
areas more than rural areas, the entire country benefited from growth during
the 1990s. Government laws, wide support, and favorable economic trends
enabled Portugal to meet EU requirements and help launch the euro in
January 1999. However, the economy lost ground from 2001 through 2007,
and the 2008 financial crisis hit Portugal hard. In 2011, Portugal became the
third country to apply for a financial bailout from the EU, after Greece and
Ireland.
Portugal remains one of the poorer EU members, with high rates of inflation,
unemployment, and public debt. The government is currently focusing on
boosting exports and implementing structural reforms, in areas such as the
labor market, to increase the country's GDP and international
competitiveness. However, to increase productivity and become competitive
in the European market, Portugal must modernize its markets, industry,
workforce, and infrastructure. Textiles, leather shoes, cork, timber, canned
fish, wine, machinery, and tourism are important industries. More than a
tenth of the labor force is engaged in agriculture, but Portugal still imports
much of its food. Main crops include grains, potatoes, olives, and grapes. The
currency, formerly the escudo, is now the euro.

Portugese Food/Dining Etiquette

The Portuguese take time for conversation during the meal. They eat in the
continental style, with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right.
When eating fish, one usually uses a special knife and fork. It is important to
keep the hands above the table at all times. Stretching, particularly at the
table, is impolite and implies one is tired or bored with the company. One
covers the mouth when using a toothpick.
Breakfast (coffee or milk and toast or a sandwich) might be eaten at home,
on the run, or (for children) at day care. Lunch, traditionally the biggest
meal, is eaten about 1 p.m., though work pressures and travel are changing

that. Increasingly, families gather for dinner instead, which is eaten between
8 and 9 p.m. Taking a snack and coffee break around 4:30 p.m. is common.
Lunch and dinner may consist of soup, a main dish that includes meat or fish
and vegetables (cooked or in a salad), and fruit or sweets for dessert. Bica, a
strong espresso-type coffee, is often served after the meal. In some areas of
the north, bica is called cimbalino. On special occasions (or when guests are
present), two main dishes may be served, in which case fish is served first. In
restaurants, one summons the server with a raised hand. The bill usually
does not include a service charge. People tip what they want to, according to
the service and the kind of restaurant. Most people do not dine out often.

Spains Land and Climate

Area: 195,125 sqmi
Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula, in Europe. It is about the same
size as Thailand, or twice the size of the U.S. state of Oregon. Much of central
Spain is a high plateau surrounded by low coastal plains. The famous
Pyrenees Mountains are in the north. Other important mountain ranges
include the Iberians, in the central part of the country, and the Sierra
Nevada, in the south. The Ebro (564 miles, or 910 kilometers) is Spain's
longest river.
The northern coasts enjoy a moderate climate with frequent rainfall yearround. The southern and eastern coasts have a more Mediterranean climate,
with long, dry summers and mild winters. Central Spain's climate is
characterized by long winters and hot summers.

The Pyrenees Mountains in the

summer.

Spains Recreation

Sports
Soccer (ftbol) is the most popular spectator sport in Spain. Fans often crowd
homes and local bars to watch important matches. Other popular spectator
sports include basketball and car or motorcycle racing.
Men are more likely than women to play soccer. Both men and women enjoy
swimming, biking, and hiking. Hunting, skiing, and fishing are favorite
activities in some areas. Pdel, a tennis-like sport, is played by four people
with small, light racquets and tennis balls on a small court.
Leisure
Going to movies and surfing the internet are popular pastimes. Spaniards like
to watch the news, soccer games, and soap operas on
television. Telebasura (literally, "trash TV"), television programming that
focuses on celebrity gossip, is increasing in popularity. People also enjoy
listening to the radio, reading, and cooking.

Spains Government
Head of State: King Juan Carlos I
Head of Government: Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy
Spain is a parliamentary monarchy. King Juan Carlos I is Spain's chief of
state, but the prime minister is head of government. Elections are scheduled
every four years but can be held earlier. The voting age is 18.
Spain is divided into 17 communities (regions). Each region has its own
rights, elected officials, and justice system. Regional governments will also
eventually have full responsibility for social programs like health care and
education.

King Juan Carlos I

Rajoy

Prime Minister Mariano

Spains Educational System

Adult Literacy: 97%
Structure and Access
School is compulsory for students between the ages of six and sixteen, the
legal age for starting work. In many areas, children begin public or private
preschool at age three. The school system includes primary school (ages 6
12) and secondary school (ages 1218). Public schools are essentially free,
though parents usually must pay for books, meals, and extra-curricular
activities, such as sports, music, dancing, and art.
School Life
Students take classes in mathematics, history, natural sciences, social
sciences, citizenship, and physical education. English is mandatory at all
levels of education, and in secondary school, students choose which other
foreign languages, such as French and German, they will study.

Andorra
Recreation
Andorra is a popular spot for people who love snow. During the winter, tens
of thousands of locals and tourists head for ski resorts that feature some of
the largest slopes in the Pyrenees. In January, the Pyrena, an international
dogsled race, takes place partly in Andorra. During the summer, people hike
on well maintained trails. Sports enthusiasts enjoy canoeing, and mountain
biking. For fishermen the mountain lakes and rivers are always well stocked
with trout. In the towns, people enjoy ice skating and swimming. The capital
boasts an Olympic size pool and a famous spa, where thermally heated
water attracts more than 300,000 guests per yearMovie theaters are also
well attended, as are state-sponsored courses in painting, woodcarving,
pottery, carpet weaving, theater, dance, music, and writing.
Economy
The Andorran economy is driven by services. Roughly 95 percent of the
Andorran labor force works in the service industry. Most of the rest work in
manufacturing.
Tourism is the primary service industry, accounting for nearly a fifth of
Andorra's employment and about four-fifths of its gross domestic product.
Every year, more than 11 million tourists come to Andorra to ski, hike, relax

in spas, eat in restaurants, and shop tax-free for watches, jewelry, high-end
electronics, alcohol, and luxury foods.
Cuisine (Food)

Andorrans frequently start the day at a local bar that serves breakfast foods
andcortados, coffee made with warm milk and served in a small glass. In
warm weather, young people often meet to drink and admire the view at
the placa del poeble, a trendy area in Andorra la Vella. When at home,
Andorrans usually drink coffee as soon as they wake up and then may eat
eggs, bread, and meat later in the morning. Lunch is typically eaten between
1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Whether going out or staying in, people eat dinner
relatively late in the evening. Most restaurants don't even start serving
dinner until 8 p.m. Some restaurants, known as bodegas,
serve tapas (starters) and pata negra (a premium class of ham) until 2 a.m.
Dinner is an occasion for everyone to catch up on the events of the day and
the latest news.

Name:
Block:

Date:

The Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal, Andorra)

Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Work
together as a group.
Portugals Government
1.) Fill in the chart
Name of leader

Head of ____________
Head of ____________

Job Title