Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular—concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Independence: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; Macau's
future constitution, the "Basic Law", promulgated by China's
National People's Congress on 31 March 1993, will go into effect 20
December 1999
Legal system: Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO of Portugal (since 9 March
1996)
head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA
(since 20 March 1991)
cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members—five
appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five
elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies,
one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two
represent economic interests), and three statutory members
elections: Portuguese president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; governor general appointed by the Portuguese
president after consultation with the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—APPEM 2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UNIPRO 2, UPD 1, ANMD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates
including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year
terms by the governor
Political parties and leaders: Uniao Promotora para o Progresso
note: there are no formal political parties, but civic associations
are used instead