Iran
chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4
June 1989)
head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August
2005); First Vice President Mohammad Reza RAHIMI (since 13 September
2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over
appointments to the more sensitive ministries
note: also considered part of the Executive branch of government are
three oversight bodies: 1) Assembly of Experts (Majles-Khebregan), a
popularly elected body charged with determining the succession of
the Supreme Leader, reviewing his performance, and deposing him if
deemed necessary; 2) Expediency Council or the Council for the
Discernment of Expediency (Majma-e-Tashkise-Maslahat-e-Nezam) exerts
supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and legislative
branches and resolves legislative issues on which the Majles and the
Council of Guardians disagree and since 1989 has been used to advise
national religious leaders on matters of national policy; in 2005
the Council's powers were expanded to act as a supervisory body for
the government; 3) Council of Guardians of the Constitution or
Council of Guardians or Guardians Council (Shora-ye Negaban-e
Qanun-e Assassi) determines whether proposed legislation is both
constitutional and faithful to Islamic law, vets candidates for
suitability, and supervises national elections
elections: Supreme Leader is appointed for life by the Assembly of
Experts; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term and third nonconsecutive term); last
held 12 June 2009;(next presidential election slated for June 2013)
election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD reelected president; percent
of vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62.6%, Mir-Hosein MUSAVI-Khamenei
33.8%, other 3.6%; voter turnout 85%
Iraq
chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005);
Vice Presidents Adil ABD AL-MAHDI and Tariq al-HASHIMI (since 22
April 2006); note - the president and vice presidents comprise the
Presidency Council)
head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May
2006); Rafi al-ISSAWI (since 19 July 2008)
cabinet: 36 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus
Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI and Deputy Prime Ministers Barham
SALIH and Rafi al-ISSAWI
elections: held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of
Representatives
Ireland
chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Brian COWEN (since 7 May 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination
by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 31 October 1997
(next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to
a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004
presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the
House of Representatives and appointed by the president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote -
Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail, the Green Party, the
Progressive Democrats (disbanding), and independent members of
Parliament
Isle of Man
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul K.
HADDACKS (since 17 October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Tony BROWN (since 14 December
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch; the chief minister is elected by the Tynwald for a
five-year term; election last held 14 December 2006 (next to be held
in December 2011)
election results: House of Keys speaker Tony BROWN elected chief
minister by the Tynwald
Israel
chief of state: President Shimon PERES (since 15 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Binjamin NETANYAHU (since 31
March 2009); Vice Prime Minister Silvan SHALOM (since 31 March
2009); Vice Prime Minister Moshe YAALON (since 31 March 2009)
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 (one-term limit); election last
held 13 June 2007 (next to be held in 2014 but can be called
earlier); 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: Shimon PERES elected president; number of votes in
first round - Shimon PERES 58, Reuven RIVLIN 37, Colette AVITAL 21;
PERES elected president in second round with 86 votes (unopposed)
Italy
chief of state: President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI (since 8 May
2008) note - in Italy the prime minister is referred to as the
president of the Council of Ministers
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 in 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 Dr. Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26
February 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Bruce GOLDING (since 11 September
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: 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 Yukio HATOYAMA (since 16
September 2009); Deputy Prime Minister Naoto KAN (since 16 September
2009)
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
Jersey
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June
2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December
2008); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)
elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are
elected by the Assembly of States; the monarch is hereditary;
lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Jordan
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999);
Crown Prince HUSSEIN (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King
ABDALLAH II
head of government: Prime Minister Nader al-DAHABI (since 25
November 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch