Short facts about the government of Egypt
| Country
name: |
conventional long
form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional
short form: Egypt
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr
al-Arabiyah
local short form: Misr
former: United
Arab Republic (with Syria) |
| Government
type: |
republic |
| Administrative divisions: |
26 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al
Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al
Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan,
Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh,
Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj |
| Independence: |
28 February 1922 (from
UK) |
| National
holiday: |
Revolution Day, 23 July
(1952) |
| Constitution: |
11 September
1971 |
| Legal
system: |
based on English common law, Islamic
law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State
(oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal and
compulsory |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October
1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Atef OBEID (since 5
October 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the
president
elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly
for a six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national,
popular referendum; national referendum last held 26 September 1999 (next to be
held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: national referendum validated
President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth
term |
| Legislative
branch: |
bicameral system consists of the
People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10
appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory
Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative role (264
seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve
NA-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting
- last held 19 October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November
2005); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held
NA)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NDP 88%, independents 8%, opposition 4%; seats by party - NDP 398, NWP
7, Tagammu 6, Nasserists 2, LSP 1, independents 38, undecided 2; Advisory
Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party -
NA |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Constitutional
Court |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or
Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [President
Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader] - governing party; National Progressive Unionist
Grouping or Tagammu [Khalid MUHI AL-DIN]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA];
Socialist Liberal Party or LSP [leader NA]
note: formation of
political parties must be approved by
government |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
despite a constitutional ban against
religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes
MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated
limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved
more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are
sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional
associations are officially sanctioned |
| International organization participation: |
ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB,
AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,
OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Nabil FAHMY
chancery: 3521 International
Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202)
895-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131
consulate(s)
general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San
Francisco |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER
embassy: 5 Latin
America St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, APO
AE 09839-4900
telephone: [20] (2) 795-7371
FAX:
[20] (2) 797-2000 |
| Flag
description: |
three equal horizontal bands of red
(top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a
golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the
country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen,
which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria, which has two
green stars, and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an
Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band | Source: World Factbook |
