Government (Nepal)
==================


     Long-form name:
         Kingdom of Nepal
     Type:
         parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991
     Capital:
         Kathmandu
     Administrative divisions:
         14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri,
         Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti,
         Sagarmatha, Seti
     Independence:
         1768, unified by Prithyi Narayan Shah
     Constitution:
         9 November 1990
     Legal system:
         based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted
         compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
     National holiday:
         Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)
     Executive branch:
         monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers
     Legislative branch:
         bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or National Council and a
         lower house or House of Representatives
     Judicial branch:
         Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat)
     Leaders:
       Chief of State:
         King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January 1972, crowned King 24
         February 1985); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son
         of the King (born 21 June 1971)
       Head of Government:
         Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 29 May 1991)
     Political parties and leaders:
       ruling party:
         Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Ganesh Man SINGH,
         Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI
       center:
         the NDP has two factions: National Democratic Party/Chand (NDP/Chand),
         Lokinra Bahadur CHAND, and National Democratic Party/Thapa (NDP/Thapa),
         Surya Bahadur THAPA - the two factions announced a merger in late 1991;
         Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, G. N. Naryan SINGH
       Communist:
         Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan
         ADIKHARY; United People's Front (UPF), N. K. PRASAI, Lila Mani POKHAREL;
         Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, leader NA; Rohit Party, N. M. BIJUKCHHE;
         Democratic Party, leader NA
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 18
     Elections:
       House of Representatives:
         last held on 12 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results - NCP 38%,
         CPN/UML 28%, NDP/Chand 6%, UPF 5%, NDP/Thapa 5%, Terai Rights Sadbhavana
         Party 4%, Rohit 2%, CPN (Democratic) 1%, independents 4%, other 7%; seats -
         (205 total) NCP 110, CPN/UML 69, UPF 9, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 6,
         NDP/Chand 3, Rohit 2, CPN (Democratic) 2, NDP/Thapa 1, independents 3; note
         - the new Constitution of 9 November 1990 gives Nepal a multiparty democracy
         system for the first time in 32 years