Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Prague
Administrative divisions: 73 districts (okresi, singular - okres) and
4 municipalities* (mesta, singular - mesto); Benesov, Beroun, Blansko,
Breclav, Brno*, Brno-Venkov, Bruntal, Ceske Budejovice, Ceska Lipa,
Cesky Krumlov, Cheb, Chomutov, Chrudim, Decin, Domazlice,
Frydek-Mistek, Havlickuv Brod, Hodonin, Hradec Kralove, Jablonec nad
Nisou, Jesenik, Jicin, Jihlava, Jindrichuv Hradec, Karlovy Vary,
Karvina, Kladno, Klatovy, Kolin, Kromeriz, Kutna Hora, Liberec,
Litomerice, Louny, Melnik, Mlada Boleslav, Most, Nachod, Novy Jicin,
Nymburk, Olomouc, Opava, Ostrava*, Pardubice, Pelhrimov, Pisek,
Plzen*, Plzen-Jih, Plzen-Sever, Prachatice, Praha*, Praha-Vychod,
Praha Zapad, Prerov, Pribram, Prostejov, Rakovnik, Rokycany, Rychnov
nad Kneznou, Semily, Sokolov, Strakonice, Sumperk, Svitavy, Tabor,
Tachov, Teplice, Trebic, Trutnov, Uherske Hradiste, Usti nad Labem,
Usti nad Orlici, Vsetin, Vyskov, Zdar nad Sazavou, Zlin, Znojmo
Independence: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and
Slovak Republics)
National holiday: National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of the
Republic, 28 October
Constitution: ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 2 February 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Milos ZEMAN (since 17 July 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir SPIDLA (since 17 July 1998), Pavel RYCHETSKY (since 17 July 1998), Pavel MERTLIK (since 17 July 1998), Jan KAZAN (since 8 December 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 20 January 1998 (next to be held NA January 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vaclav HAVEL reelected president; Vaclav HAVEL received 47 of 81 votes in the Senate and 99 out of 200 votes in the Chamber of Deputies (second round of voting)
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve staggered two-, four-, and six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 13-14 and 20-21 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000 - to replace/reelect 20 senators serving two-year terms); Chamber of Deputies - last held 19-20 June 1998 (next to be held by NA June 2002) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSSD 23, ODS 25, KDU-CSL 16, KCSM 4, ODA 7, US 4, DEU 1, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSSD 74, ODS 63, KDU-CSL 20, US 19, KCSM 24