<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 6 December 1921 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebecite
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990); election last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results—Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by president with previous nomination of the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
<item><hi format=bold>Senate (Seanad Eireann):</hi> elections last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held February 1997); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6
<item><hi format=bold>House of Representatives (Dail Eireann):</hi> elections last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June 1995); results—Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats—(166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna Fail and the Labor Party
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed—orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red