4 January 1948 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)

Constitution:

3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; a new constitution was approved on 10 May 2008; note - new constitution will take effect when a new parliament is convened following elections scheduled for 2010

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: