Independence : 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821) National holiday : Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Panama's public holidays reflect its patriotism [url=http://bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com/questions-and-answers/1046-what-are-the-holidays-of-coronado-panama]]and its Catholic roots.[http://bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com/questions-and-answers/796-what-are-the-holidays-of-pedasi-azuero-peninsula-central-panama-province[/url]

With US backing, Panama seceded from [wiki=ef3388cc5659bccb742fb8af762f1bfd]Colombia[/wiki] in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and [wiki=1f122dd19db580fd03635dd699fb49de]US[/wiki] sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914.

Constitution : 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983 and 1994

On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999.