Short facts about the government of Papua New Guinea
| Country
name: |
conventional long
form: Independent State of Papua New
Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New
Guinea
former: Territory of Papua and New
Guinea
abbreviation: PNG |
| Government
type: |
constitutional monarchy with
parliamentary democracy |
| Administrative divisions: |
20 provinces; Bougainville, Central,
Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang,
Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun,
Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New
Britain |
| Independence: |
16 September 1975 (from the
Australian-administered UN trusteeship) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 16 September
(1975) |
| Constitution: |
16 September
1975 |
| Legal
system: |
based on English common
law |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997)
head of
government: Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA (since NA August 1999); Deputy
Prime Minister Michael OGIO (since 3 November 2000)
cabinet:
National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch
is hereditary; governor general appointed by the National Executive Council;
prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for
up to five years on the basis of majority support in National
Parliament |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral National Parliament -
sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open
electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14-28 June 1997
(next to be held NA June 2002)
election results: percent of vote
by party - PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP
1%, PUP 1%, independents 33%; seats by party - PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM
9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note - association with
political parties is very fluid |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court (the chief justice is
appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive
Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other
judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services
Commission) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
National Alliance or NA [Michael
SOMARE]; National Party or NP [Michael MEL]; Papua New Guinea United Party or
Pangu Pati [Chris HAIVETA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Ted DIRO]; People's
Democratic Movement or PDM [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's National Congress or
PNC [Simon KAUMI]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Michael NALI]; People's Unity
Party or PUP [Alfred KAIABE]; United Party or UP [Rimbiuk
PATO] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International organization participation: |
ACP, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner),
AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Susan JACOBS
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202)
745-3680
FAX: [1] (202)
745-3679 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
embassy: Douglas Street,
Port Moresby
mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port
Moresby
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675]
321-3423 |
| Flag
description: |
divided diagonally from upper
hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of
paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed
stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered | Source: World Factbook |
