Government (Kuwait)
===================


     Long-form name:
         State of Kuwait
     Type:
         nominal constitutional monarchy
     Capital:
         Kuwait
     Administrative divisions:
         5 governorates (mu'hafaz'at, singular - muh'afaz'ah); Al Ah'madi, Al Jahrah,
         Al Kuwayt, 'Hawalli; Farwaniyah
     Independence:
         19 June 1961 (from UK)
     Constitution:
         16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29 August 1962)
     Legal system:
         civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not
         accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
     National holiday:
         National Day, 25 February
     Executive branch:
         amir, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
     Legislative branch:
         National Assembly (Majlis al `umma) dissolved 3 July 1986; elections for new
         Assembly scheduled for October 1992
     Judicial branch:
         High Court of Appeal
     Leaders:
       Chief of State:
         Amir Shaykh JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 31 December 1977)
       Head of Government:
         Prime Minister and Crown Prince SA`UD al-`Abdallah al-Salim al-Sabah (since
         8 February 1978); Deputy Prime Minister SALIM al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah
     Political parties and leaders:
         none
     Suffrage:
         adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male descendants at
         age 21; note - out of all citizens, only 10% are eligible to vote and only
         5% actually vote
     Elections:
       National Assembly:
         dissolved 3 July 1986; new elections are scheduled for October 1992
     Other political or pressure groups:
         40,000 Palestinian community; small, clandestine leftist and Shi`a
         fundamentalist groups are active; several groups critical of government
         policies are active
     Member of:
         ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA,
         IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
         INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN,
         UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
     Diplomatic representation:
         Ambassador Shaykh Sa`ud Nasir al-SABAH; Chancery at 2940 Tilden Street NW,
         Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 966-0702
       US:
         Ambassador Edward (Skip) GNEHM, Jr.; Embassy at Bneid al-Gar (opposite the
         Kuwait International Hotel), Kuwait City (mailing address is P.O. Box 77
         SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; APO AE 09880); telephone [965] 242-4151 through
         4159; FAX [956] 244-2855