Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day 23 February (1984)
Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a
State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1
January 1984)
Legal system: based on Islamic law
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His
Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin
Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967)
cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers; composed chiefly of members of
the royal family
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri): elections last held in
March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by
decree of the sultan; an elected legislative Council is being
considered as part of constitution reform, but elections are unlikely
for several years
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Brunei United National Party
(inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei National Solidarity
Party (the first legal political party and now banned), leader NA;
Brunei Peoples Party (banned), leader NA