chief of state: President Malam Bacai SANHA (since 8
September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos GOMES Junior (since 25
December 2008)
cabinet: NA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 28 June 2009 with a runoff
between the two leading candidates held on 26 July 2009 (next to be
held by 2014); prime minister appointed by the president after
consultation with party leaders in the legislature
election results: Malam Bacai SANHA elected president; percent of
vote, second ballot - Malam Bacai SANHA 63.5%, Kumba YALA 36.5%
Guyana
chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August
1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President
Janet JAGAN and was reelected in 2001, and again in 2006
head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992,
except for a period as chief of state after the death of President
Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president,
responsible to the legislature
elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party
list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every
five years (no term limits); elections last held on 28 August 2006
(next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of
vote 54.6%
Haiti
chief of state: President Rene PREVAL (since 14 May 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Max BELLERIVE (since 7
November 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 28 November
2010; runoff scheduled for 16 January 2011 (next to be held in
2015); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the
National Assembly
election results: 2010 results not final, initial results are under
OAS review; Mirlande MANIGAT 31.37%, Jude CELESTIN 22.48%, Michel
MARTELLY 21.84%, all others less than 10% each
Holy See (Vatican City)
chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19
April 2005)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE
(since 15 September 2006)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City
appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held on 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death
of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
Honduras
chief of state: President Porfirio LOBO Sosa (since 27
January 2010); Vice President Maria Antonieta Guillen de BOGRAN
(since 27 January 2010); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Porfirio LOBO Sosa (since 27 January
2010); Vice President Maria Antonieta Guillen de BOGRAN (since 27
January 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in November
2013)
election results: Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa elected president;
percent of vote - Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa 56.3%, Elvin SANTOS
Lozano 38.1%, other 5.6%
Hong Kong
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15
March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Donald TSANG Yam-kuen (since 24
June 2005)
cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo consists of 15 official members
and 14 non-official members
elections: chief executive elected for five-year term by 800-member
electoral committee; election last held on 25 March 2007 (next to be
held in 2012)
note: the LegCo voted in June 2010 to expand the electoral committee
to 1,200 seats for the next election
election results: Donald TSANG elected chief executive receiving
84.1% of the vote of the election committee; Alan LEONG Kah-kit
received 15.9%
Hungary
chief of state: President Pal SCHMITT (since 6 August 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers prime minister elected by the National
Assembly on the recommendation of the president; other ministers
proposed by the prime minister and appointed and relieved of their
duties by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
29 June 2010 (next to be held by June 2015); prime minister elected
by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president;
election last held 29 May 2010
election results: Pal SCHMITT elected president; National Assembly
vote - Pal SCHMITT 263, Andras BALOGH 58; Viktor ORBAN was elected
prime minister; National Assembly vote - 261 to 107
note: to be elected, the president must win two-thirds of
legislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in the
third round
Iceland
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1
August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR (since 1
February 2009);
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: president, a largely ceremonial post, elected by popular
vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held on 28
June 2004 (next to be held in June 2012); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually the prime minister
note: the presidential election of 28 June 2008 was not held because
Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON had no challengers; he was sworn in on 1
August 2008
2004 election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president;
percent of vote - Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON 85.6%, Baldur AGUSTSSON
12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%;
India
chief of state: President Pratibha Devisingh PATIL (since 25
July 2007); Vice President Mohammad Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August
2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Manmohan SINGH (since 22 May 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of
the states for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held
in July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012); vice president elected
by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term; election last
held in August 2007 (next to be held August 2012); prime minister
chosen by parliamentary members of the majority party following
legislative elections; election last held April - May 2009 (next to
be held no later than May 2014)
election results: Pratibha PATIL elected president; percent of vote
- Pratibha PATIL 65.8%, Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT - 34.2%
Indonesia
chief of state: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since
20 October 2004); Vice President BOEDIONO (since 20 October 2009);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20
October 2004); Vice President BOEDIONO (since 20 October 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected for five-year terms
(eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry;
election last held on 8 July 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO elected president;
percent of vote - Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO 60.8%, MEGAWATI
Sukarnoputri 26.8%, Jusuf KALLA 12.4%
Iran
chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4
June 1989)
head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August
2005); First Vice President Mohammad Reza RAHIMI (since 13 September
2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over
appointments to the more sensitive ministries
note: also considered part of the Executive branch of government are
three oversight bodies: 1) Assembly of Experts (Majles-Khebregan), a
popularly elected body charged with determining the succession of
the Supreme Leader, reviewing his performance, and deposing him if
deemed necessary; 2) Expediency Council or the Council for the
Discernment of Expediency (Majma-e-Tashkhis-e-Maslahat-e-Nezam)
exerts supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and
legislative branches and resolves legislative issues on which the
Majles and the Council of Guardians disagree and since 1989 has been
used to advise national religious leaders on matters of national
policy; in 2005 the Council's powers were expanded to act as a
supervisory body for the government; 3) Council of Guardians of the
Constitution or Council of Guardians or Guardians Council (Shora-ye
Negban-e Qanon-e Asassi) determines whether proposed legislation is
both constitutional and faithful to Islamic law, vets candidates in
popular elections for suitability, and supervises national elections
elections: Supreme Leader appointed for life by the Assembly of
Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term and third nonconsecutive term); election
last held on 12 June 2009;(next presidential election slated for
June 2013)
election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD reelected president; percent
of vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62.6%, Mir-Hosein MUSAVI-Khamenei
33.8%, other 3.6%; voter turnout 85% (according to official figures
published by the government)
Iraq
chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers consists of ministers appointed by the
Presidency Council plus the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers
elections: president elected by Council of Representatives
(parliament) to serve a four-year term (eligible for a second term)
election results: President Jalal TALABANI reelected on 11 November
2010; parliamentary vote count on second ballot - 195 votes; Nuri
al-MALIKI reselected prime minister
Ireland
chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November
1997)
head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian COWEN (since 7
May 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination
by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 October 1997
(next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE was
appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the
2004 presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by
the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann) and appointed by the
president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote -
Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
Isle of Man
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul K.
HADDACKS (since 17 October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Tony BROWN (since 14 December
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch; the chief minister elected by the Tynwald for a
five-year term; election last held on 14 December 2006 (next to be
held in December 2011)
election results: House of Keys speaker Tony BROWN elected chief
minister by the Tynwald
Israel
chief of state: President Shimon PERES (since 15 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31
March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the
Knesset
elections: president largely a ceremonial role and is elected by the
Knesset for a seven-year term (one-term limit); election last held
13 June 2007 (next to be held in 2014 but can be called earlier);
following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with
party leaders, assigns the task of forming a governing coalition to
a Knesset member who he or she determines is most likely to
accomplish that task
election results: Shimon PERES elected president; number of votes in
first round - Shimon PERES 58, Reuven RIVLIN 37, Colette AVITAL 21;
PERES elected president in second round with 86 votes (unopposed)
Italy
chief of state: President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI (since 8 May
2008) note - in Italy the prime minister is referred to as the
president of the Council of Ministers
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and
nominated by the president
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a
seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 10 May 2006
(next to be held in May 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president and confirmed by parliament
election results: Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the fourth
round of voting; electoral college vote - 543
Jamaica
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Dr. Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26
February 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Bruce GOLDING (since 11 September
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the governor general on the advice
of the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is
appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime
minister recommended by the prime minister
Japan
chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Naoto KAN (since 8 June 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the prime minister
elections: Diet designates the prime minister; constitution requires
that the prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following
legislative elections, the leader of majority party or leader of
majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime
minister; the monarchy is hereditary
Jersey
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June
2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December
2008); Bailiff Michael BIRT (since 9 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)
elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are
elected by the Assembly of States; the monarchy is hereditary;
lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Jordan
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999);
Crown Prince HUSSEIN (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King
ABDALLAH II
head of government: Prime Minister Samir al-RIFAI (since 9 December
2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Ayman al-SAFADI, Khalid al-KARAKI,
Sa'ad Hayel SROUR
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch
Kazakhstan
chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV
(chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected
president 1 December 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 10 January
2007); First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak SHUKEYEV (since 3 March
2009), Deputy Prime Ministers Yerbol ORYNBAYEV (since 29 October
2007), Aset ISEKESHEV (since 12 March 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held on 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2012);
prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the
president, with Mazhilis approval; note - constitutional amendments
of May 2007 shortened the presidential term from seven years to five
years and established a two-consecutive-term limit; changes will
take effect after NAZARBAYEV's term ends; he, and only he, is
allowed to run for president indefinitely
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president;
percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 91.1%, Zharmakhan A.
TUYAKBAY 6.6%, Alikhan M. BAYMENOV 1.6%
Kenya
chief of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December
2002); Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January
2008);
head of government: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002);
Vice President Stephen Kalonzo MUSYOKA (since 10 January 2008); note
- the roles of the president and prime minister are not well defined
at this juncture; constitutionally, the president remains chief of
state and head of government, but the prime minister is charged with
coordinating government business
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and headed by the prime
minister, who is the leader of the largest party in parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving the largest
number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must
also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven
provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held on 27
December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012); vice president
appointed by the president
election results: President Mwai KIBAKI reelected; percent of vote -
Mwai KIBAKI 46%, Raila ODINGA 44%, Kalonzo MUSYOKA 9%
Kiribati
chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003);
Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice
President Teima ONORIO
cabinet: 12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the
members of the House of Parliament
elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential
candidates from among its members and then those candidates compete
in a general election; president elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held on
17 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed
by the president
election results: Anote TONG 63.7%, Nabuti MWEMWENIKARAWA 32.9%
Korea, North
chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note -
on 9 April 2009, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA)
reelected KIM Jong Il chairman of the National Defense Commission, a
position accorded nation's "highest administrative authority"; SPA
reelected KIM Yong Nam in 2009 president of its Presidium also with
responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic
credentials
head of government: Premier CHOE Yong Rim (since 7 June 2010); Vice
Premier HAN Kwang Bok (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier JO Pyong Ju
(since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier JON Ha Chol (since 7 June 2010),
Vice Premier KANG Nung Su (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier KIM Rak
Hui (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier PAK Su Gil (since 18 September
2009), Vice Premier RI Thae Nam (since 7 June 2010); Vice Premier RO
Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's
Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA
elections: last election held in September 2003; date of next
election NA
election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees
for positions and ran unopposed
Korea, South
chief of state: President LEE Myung-bak (since 25
February 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister KIM Hwang-sik (since 1 October
2010)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime
minister's recommendation
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year
term; election last held on 19 December 2007 (next to be held in
December 2012); prime minister appointed by president with consent
of National Assembly
election results: LEE Myung-bak elected president on 19 December
2007; percent of vote - LEE Myung-bak (GNP) 48.7%; CHUNG Dong-young
(UNDP) 26.1%); LEE Hoi-chang (independent) 15.1; others 10.1%
Kosovo
chief of state: Acting President Jakup KRASNIQI (since 27
September 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Hashim THACI (since 9 January
2008)
cabinet: ministers; elected by the Kosovo Assembly
elections: the president elected for a five-year term by the Kosovo
Assembly; election last held on 9 January 2008 (next to be held - a
special election in 2011); the prime minister elected by the Kosovo
Assembly
election results: Fatmir SEJDIU reelected president after three
rounds; note - resigned from the office of president on 27
Septermber 2010; Hashim THACI elected prime minister by the Assembly
Kuwait
chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since
29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah
(since 7 February 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister NASIR AL-MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad
al-Sabah (since 3 April 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR
AL-MUBAREK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime
Minister MUHAMMAD AL-SABAH al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the amir
elections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime ministers
Kyrgyzstan
chief of state: President Roza OTUNBAEVA (since 19 May
2010); note - OTUNBAEVA became acting president on 7 April 2010
following the early April 2010 riots that overthrew President
Kurmanbek BAKIEV; she was appointed president through 31 December
2011 by a 19 May 2010 decree of the provisional government, which
also prohibited her from running in the next presidential election;
she was officially sworn in on 3 July 2010
head of government: Prime Minister Almazbek ATAMBAEV (since 17
December 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister - Omurbek BABANOV (since
17 December 2010); Deputy Prime Ministers - Shamil ATAKHANOV,
Ibragim JUNUSOV, Jantoro SATYBALDIEV (since 17 December 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,
appointed by the president; ministers in charge of defense and
security, are appointed solely by the president
elections: Kurmanbek BAKIEV reelected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held on 23 July 2009 (next scheduled
for 2011); prime minister nominated by the parliamentary party
holding more than 50% of the seats; if no such party exists, the
president selects the party that will form a coalition majority and
government
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIEV elected president; percent of
vote - Kurmanbek BAKIEV 76.1%, Almaz ATAMBAEV 8.4%, Temir SARIEV
6.7%, other candidates 8.8%
Laos
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8
June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister THONGSING Thammavong (since 24
December 2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since
May 2002), Lt. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT
Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27
March 2001)
cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National
Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly
for five-year terms; election last held on 8 June 2006 (next to be
held in 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and elected
by the National Assembly for five-year term
election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG
Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote -
100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of
National Assembly vote - 97%