Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and
14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*,
Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla,
Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*,
Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla,
Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la,
Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*,
Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla,
Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla,
Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla,
Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17
June (1944)
Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980);
election last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996);
results - there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis
FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed
head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Althing): elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be
held by April 1999); results - Independence Party 37.1%, Progressive
Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists 14.3%, People's
Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats - (63 total) Independence 25,
Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement
4, Women's Party 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur)