Short facts about the government of Laos
| Country
name: |
conventional long
form: Lao People's Democratic
Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long
form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short
form: none |
| Government
type: |
Communist
state |
| Administrative divisions: |
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and
plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special
zone** (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak,
Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan,
Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong,
Xiangkhoang |
| Independence: |
19 July 1949 (from
France) |
| National
holiday: |
Republic Day, 2 December
(1975) |
| Constitution: |
promulgated 14 August
1991 |
| Legal
system: |
based on traditional customs, French
legal norms and procedures, and Socialist
practice |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998) and Vice
President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since NA March 2001)
head of
government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since NA March 2001); Deputy
Prime Ministers THONGLOUN Sisolit (since NA March 2001), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat
(since 26 February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed
by the president, approved by the National Assembly
elections:
president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last
held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the
president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year
term
election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president;
percent of National Assembly vote - NA% |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral National Assembly (99 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - by presidential
decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats increased from 85 to
99)
elections: last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members)
99 |
| Judicial
branch: |
People's Supreme Court (the president
of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president
of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National
Assembly Standing Committee) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or
LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties
proscribed |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
noncommunist political groups
proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in
1975 |
| International organization participation: |
ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador VANG Rattanavong
chancery: 2222 S Street
NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202)
332-6416
FAX: [1] (202)
332-4923 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Karen Brevard
STEWART
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114,
Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP
96546
telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582,
212585
FAX: [856] (21)
212584 |
| Flag
description: |
three horizontal bands of red (top),
blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue
band | Source: World Factbook |
