Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
National holiday: National Day, 16 December
Executive branch: amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet
Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court
Leaders: Chief of State—Amir Isa bin Salman Al KHALIFA (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent Hamad bin Isa Al KHALIFA (son of Amir; born 28 January 1950);
Head of Government—Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al KHALIFA, (since 19 January 1970)
Political parties and pressure groups: political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and Shia fundamentalist groups are active
Suffrage: none
Elections: none