Israel
chief of state: President Moshe KATZAV (since 31 July 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ehud OLMERT (since May 2006);
Deputy Prime Minister Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI (since May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the
Knesset
elections: president is largely a ceremonial role and is elected by
the Knesset for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last
held 31 July 2000 (next to be held mid-2007); following legislative
elections, the president assigns a Knesset member - traditionally
the leader of the largest party - the task of forming a governing
coalition
election results: Moshe KATZAV elected president by the 120-member
Knesset with a total of 60 votes, other candidate, Shimon PERES,
received 57 votes (there were three abstentions); Ariel SHARON
continued as prime minister after Likud Party victory in January
2003 Knesset elections; Likud won 38 seats and then formed coalition
government with Shinui, the National Religious Party, and the
National Union; controversy surrounding SHARON's disengagement plan
ultimately led to the formation of a Likud-Labor-United Torah
Judaism (UTJ) coalition government in January 2005
Italy
chief of state: President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as the
president of the Council of Ministers) Romano PRODI (since 17 May
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
approved by the president
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a
seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 10 May 2006
(next to be held May 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president and confirmed by parliament
election results: Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the fourth
round of voting; electoral college vote - 543
Jamaica
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Kenneth O. HALL (since 15 February
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Portia SIMPSON-MILLER (since 30
March 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime
minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House
of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor
general; the deputy prime minister is recommended by the prime
minister
Japan
chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Shinzo ABE (since 26 September
2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: Diet designates prime minister; constitution requires
that prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following
legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of
majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime
minister; monarch is hereditary
election results: ABE was elected prime minister with 339 of 476
votes cast in the House of Representatives and 136 of 240 votes cast
in the House of Councilors.
Jersey
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14
June 2006); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995)
cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and
bailiff appointed by the monarch
Jordan
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999);
Prince HUSSEIN (born 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH, is first in
line to inherit the throne
head of government: Prime Minister Marouf al-BAKHIT (since 24
November 2005); Deputy Prime Minister Ziad FARIZ (since 24 November
2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch
Kazakhstan
chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV
(chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected
president 1 December 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Daniyal AKHMETOV (since 13 June
2003); Deputy Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 19 January 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held 4 December 2005 (next to be
held in 2012); prime minister and first deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president;
percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 91.1%, Zharmakhan A.
TUYAKBAI 6.6%, Alikhan M. BAIMENOV 1.6%
note: President NAZARBAYEV arranged a referendum in 1995 that
extended his term of office and expanded his presidential powers:
only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss
the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his
discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
Kenya
chief of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December
2002); Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002);
Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving the largest
number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must
also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven
provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held 27
December 2002 (next to be held December 2007); vice president
appointed by the president
election results: President Mwai KIBAKI elected; percent of vote -
Mwai KIBAKI 63%, Uhuru KENYATTA 30%
Kiribati
chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003);
Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice
President Teima ONORIO
cabinet: 12-member cabinet appointed by the president from among the
members of the House of Parliament
elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential
candidates from among its members and then those candidates compete
in a general election; president is elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held 4
July 2003 (next to be held not later than July 2007); vice president
appointed by the president
election results: Anote TONG 47.4%, Harry TONG 43.5%, Banuera BERINA
9.1%
Korea, North
chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note -
on 3 September 2003, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA)
reelected KIM Jong Il chairman of the National Defense Commission, a
position accorded nation's "highest administrative authority"; SPA
reelected KIM Yong Nam president of its Presidium also with
responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic
credentials; SPA appointed PAK Pong Ju premier
head of government: Premier PAK Pong Ju (since 3 September 2003);
Vice Premiers KWAK Pom Gi (since 5 September 1998), JON Sung Hun
(since 3 September 2003), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's
Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA
elections: last held in September 2003 (next to be held in September
2008)
election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees
for positions and ran unopposed