Technically, the government of Guatemala is a constitutional democratic republic. However, since the demise of the United Provinces of Central America in 1838, the government of this Central American country has been quite turbulent, wrought with dictators, coup leaders, and others who didn’t have the good of the people in mind when they took office. In 1977, the U.S. cut off military aid to the country due to human rights abuses, especially against indigenous Mayans.

After decades of turbulence, in November 2007, the people elected Álvaro Colom of the National Unity for Hope party, with hopes that civil strife would continue to improve, as it has since about 1996.