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 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 six-year
presidential term; note - the president is nominated by the People's
Assembly and that nomination must then be validated by a national,
popular referendum
head of government: Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed al-GANZOURI (since 4
January 1996) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral
People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b): elections last held 29 November
1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - NDP 72%, idependents 25%,
opposition 3%; seats - (454 total, 444 elected, 10 appointed by the
president) NDP 317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab
Democratic Party 1, Liberals 1
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura): functions only in a consultative
role; elections last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA); results
- NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats - (264 total, 176 elected, 88
appointed by the president) seats by party NA
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 as follows: New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad
SIRAJ AL-DIN; Socialist Labor Party (SLP), Ibrahim SHUKRI; National
Progressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid Muhi al-DIN; Socialist
Liberal Party, Mustafa Kamal MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party,
Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr
al-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party), leader NA; 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
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT
(associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), AL, AMF, BSEC (observer),
CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
(observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.
embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City,
Cairo
mailing address: APO AE 09839-4900, Unit 64900, Cairo
telephone: [20] (2) 3557371
FAX: [20] (2) 3573200
branch office: Alexandria