Constitution: 15 March 1984 (Zanzibar has its own Constitution but remains subject to provisions of the union Constitution)
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday: Union Day, 26 April (1964)
Executive branch: president, first vice president and prime minister of the union, second vice president and president of Zanzibar, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Bunge)
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State—President Ali Hassan MWINYI (since 5 November 1985);
Head of Government—First Vice President and Prime Minister Joseph Sinde
WARIOBA (since 6 November 1985)
Political parties and leaders: only party—Chama Cha Mapinduzi
(CCM or Revolutionary Party), Julius Nyerere, party chairman
Suffrage: universal at age 18