Government (Yemen)
==================


     Long-form name:
         Republic of Yemen
     Type:
         republic
     Capital:
         Sanaa
     Administrative divisions:
         17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, `Adan, Al Bayda',
         Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb,
         Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa`dah, San`a', Shabwah, Ta`izz
     Independence:
         Republic of Yemen was established on 22 May 1990 with the merger of the
         Yemen Arab Republic Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen and the Marxist-dominated
         People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen;
         previously North Yemen had become independent on NA November 1918 (from the
         Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967
         (from the UK); the union is to be solidified during a 30-month transition
         period, which coincides with the remainder of the five-year terms of both
         legislatures
     Constitution:
         16 April 1991
     Legal system:
         based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local customary
         law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
     National holiday:
         Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)
     Executive branch:
         five-member Presidential Council (president, vice president, two members
         from northern Yemen and one member from southern Yemen), prime minister
     Legislative branch:
         unicameral House of Representatives
     Judicial branch:
         North - State Security Court; South - Federal High Court
     Leaders:
       Chief of State and Head of Government:
         President `Ali `Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of
         North Yemen); Vice President Ali Salim al-BIDH (since 22 May 1990, and
         Secretary General of the Yemeni Socialist Party); Presidential Council
         Member Salim Salih MUHAMMED; Presidential Council Member Kadi Abdul-Karim
         al-ARASHI; Presidential Council Member Abdul-Aziz ABDUL-GHANI; Prime
         Minister Haydar Abu Bakr al-`ATTAS (since 22 May 1990, former president of
         South Yemen)
     Political parties and leaders:
         General People's Congress, `Ali `Abdallah SALIH; Yemeni Socialist Party
         (YSP; formerly South Yemen's ruling party - a coalition of National Front,
         Ba`th, and Communist Parties), Ali Salim al-BIDH; Yemen Grouping for Reform
         or Islaah, Abdallah Husayn AHMAR
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 18
     Elections:
       House of Representatives:
         last held NA (next to be held NA November 1992); results - percent of vote
         NA; seats - (301); number of seats by party NA; note - the 301 members of
         the new House of Representatives come from North Yemen's Consultative
         Assembly (159 members), South Yemen's Supreme People's Council (111
         members), and appointments by the New Presidential Council (31 members)
     Communists:
         small number in North, greater but unknown number in South