Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)
Constitution: 11 September 1971
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (sworn in as
president on 14 October 1981, eight days after the assassination of
President SADAT); national referendum held 4 October 1993 validated
Mubarak's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third 6-year
presidential term
head of government: Prime Minister Atef Mohammed Najib SEDKY (since 12
November 1986)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral
People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b): elections last held 29 November
1990 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - NDP 86.3%, NPUG
1.3%, independents 12.4%; seats - (454 total, 444 elected, 10
appointed by the president) NDP 383, NPUG 6, independents 55; note -
most opposition parties boycotted; NDP figures include NDP members who
ran as independents and other NDP-affiliated independents
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura): functions only in a consultative
role; elections last held 8 June 1989 (next to be held NA June 1995);
results - NDP 100%; seats - (258 total, 172 elected, 86 appointed by
the president) NDP 172
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party (NDP),
President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader, is the dominant party; legal
opposition parties are; New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN;
Socialist Labor Party, Ibrahim SHUKRI; National Progressive Unionist
Grouping (NPUG), Khalid MUHYI-AL-DIN; Socialist Liberal Party (SLP),
Mustafa Kamal MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party, Mohammed
'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr al-Fatah Party
(Young Egypt Party), Gamal RABIE; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party,
Dia' al-din DAWUD; Democratic Peoples' Party, Anwar AFIFI; The Greens
Party, Kamal KIRAH; Social Justice Party, Muhammad 'ABD-AL-'AL
note: formation of political parties must be approved by government
Other political or pressure groups: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more aggressively in the past year to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned