Short facts about the government of Iceland

Country name:

conventional long form:  Republic of Iceland conventional short form:  Iceland local long form:  Lyoveldio Island local short form:  Island

Government type:

constitutional republic

Capital:

Reykjavik

Administrative divisions:

23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla note:  there may be four other counties

Independence:

17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

Constitution:

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system:

civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:  President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996) head of government:  Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991) cabinet:  Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by Parliament elections:  president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2004); President GRIMSSON ran unopposed in June 2000 so there were no elections; prime minister appointed by the president election results:  Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; President GRIMSSON ran unopposed

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections:  last held on 8 May 1999 (next to be held by April 2003) election results:  percent of vote by party - Independence Party 40.7%, The Alliance (PA, People's Party, Women's List) 26.8%, Progressive Party 18.4%, Left-Green Alliance 9.1%, Liberal Party 4.2%; seats by party - Independence Party 26, The Alliance 17, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 6, Liberal Party 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Independence Party (conservative) or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance [Steinsvimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party [Sverrir HERMANNSSON]; People's Party (Social Democratic Party) or SDP [Sighvatyr BJORGIVINSSON]; Progressive Party (liberal) or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; The Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SVP, People's Movement, Women's List) [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON]; Women's List or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON chancery:  Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone:  [1] (202) 265-6653 FAX:  [1] (202) 265-6656 consulate(s) general:  New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Barbara J. GRIFFITHS embassy:  Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik mailing address:  US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340 telephone:  [354] 5629100 FAX:  [354] 5629118

Flag description:

blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Source: World Factbook