Type of government: republic
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Constitution: approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October 1994
Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rene Garcia PREVAL (since 7 February
1996), was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held by December
2000); results - Rene PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%
head of government: Prime Minister Rosny SMARTH (since March 1996)
was appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet; was chosen by prime minister in consultation with
the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale)
Senate: elections last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August
and runoffs on 17 September (next to be held 25 June 1999); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - 27 total
Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on
13 August and runoffs on 17 September; results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - 83 total