Government (Iceland)
====================


     Long-form name:
         Republic of Iceland
     Type:
         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
     Independence:
         17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
     Constitution:
         16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
     Legal system:
         civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ
         jurisdiction
     National holiday:
         Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
     Executive branch:
         president, prime minister, Cabinet
     Legislative branch:
         unicameral Parliament (Althing)
     Judicial branch:
         Supreme Court (Haestirettur)
     Leaders:
       Chief of State:
         President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980)
       Head of Government:
         Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
     Political parties and leaders:
         Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party,
         Steingrimur HERMANNSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON;
         People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Citizens Party
         (conservative nationalist), Julius SOLNES; Women's List
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 20
     Elections:
       President:
         last held on 29 June 1980 (next scheduled for June 1992); results - there
         were no elections in 1984 and 1988 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was
         unopposed
       Althing:
         last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995); results -
         Independence Party 38.6%, Progressive Party 18.9%, Social Democratic Party
         15.5%, People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.13%, Liberals 1.2%, other
         3.27% seats - (63 total) Independence 26, Progressive 13, Social Democratic
         10, People's Alliance 9, Womens List 5