Independence: 1278
National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chiefs of state: French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May
1981), represented by Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS (since
NA); note - COURTOIS is to become French ambassador to Libreville and
his replacement has not been announced; Spanish Episcopal Co-Prince
Mgr. Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by Veguer
Episcopal Francesc BADIA Bata (since NA); two permanent delegates
(French Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ for the department of
Pyrenees-Orientales, since NA, and Spanish Vicar General Nemesi
MARQUES Oste for the Seo de Urgel diocese, since NA)
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE (since 21
December 1994) elected by Parliament, following resignation of Oscar
RIBAS Reig
cabinet: Executive Council; designated by the executive council
president
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys: (Consell General de las Valls); elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); yielded no clear winner; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for civil cases, the Ecclesiastical Court of the bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil cases, Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal cases
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group (AND), Oscar
RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc CERQUEDA;
New Democracy (ND), Jaume BARTOMEU; Andorran National Coalition (CNA),
Antoni CERQUEDA; National Democratic Initiative (IDN), Vincenc MATEU;
Liberal Union (UL), Marc FORNE
note: there are two other small parties
Member of: ECE, IFRCS (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, UN, UNESCO