Government (Bhutan)
===================


     Long-form name:
         Kingdom of Bhutan
     Type:
         monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
     Capital:
         Thimphu
     Administrative divisions:
         18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang,
         Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi,
         Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
     Independence:
         8 August 1949 (from India)
     Constitution:
         no written constitution or bill of rights
     Legal system:
         based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
         jurisdiction
     National holiday:
         National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king), 17 December
         (1907)
     Executive branch:
         monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council, Royal Advisory Council
         (Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers
         (Lhengye Shungtsog)
     Legislative branch:
         unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu)
     Judicial branch:
         High Court
     Leaders:
       Chief of State and Head of Government:
         King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
     Political parties and leaders:
         no legal parties
     Suffrage:
         each family has one vote in village-level elections
     Elections:
         no national elections
     Communists:
         no overt Communist presence
     Other political or pressure groups:
         Buddhist clergy, Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations
         leading militant antigovernment campaign
     Member of:
         AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, ITU, NAM,
         SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
     Diplomatic representation:
         no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained
         between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India); the Bhutanese
         mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US
     Flag:
         divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is
         orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing line is a
         large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side