Government type: republic
National capital: San Marino
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
Independence: 301 AD (by tradition)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic, 3
September
Constitution: 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: co-chiefs of state Captain Regent Piero Paolo GASPERONI and Captain Regent Pietro BUGLI (for the period 1 April-30 September 1996) head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986) cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term elections : co-chiefs of state (captain regents) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA March 1996 (next to be held NA September 1996); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held NA 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: Giancarlo VENTURINI and Maurizio RATTINI elected captain regents; percent of legislative vote - NA; Gabriele GATTI elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA note: the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (Co-Chiefs of State) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Great and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State) which has ten other members, all selected by the Great and General Council; assisting the Captains Regent are three Secretaries of State - Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance - and several additional secretaries; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has assumed many of the prerogatives of a prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Great and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections : last held 30 May 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - PDCS 41.4%, PSS 23.7%, PDP 18.6%, AP 7.7%, MD 5.3%, RC 3.3%; seats by party - PDCS 26, PSS 14, PDP 11, AP 4, MD 3, RC 2