Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate
under French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized
for women at age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989) was
elected for a six-year term by the National Assembly and in 1995 the
National Assembly amended the constitution to extend his term by
three years; note - by custom, the president is a Maronite
Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of
the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI (since 22 October
1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Michel al-MURR (since NA) were
appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
cabinet: Cabinet was chosen by the prime minister in consultation
with the members of the National Assembly; the current Cabinet was
formed in 1995
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab French - Assembl: elections last held in the summer of 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (128 total, one-half Christian and one-half Muslim) independents 128
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations