This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government. Cabinet includes the official name for this body of high-ranking advisers and the method for selection of members. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election. Country
Executive branch
Afghanistan
chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); First Vice
President Mohammad FAHIM Khan (since 19 November 2009); Second Vice
President Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); First Vice President Mohammad
FAHIM Khan (since 19 November 2009); Second Vice President Abdul
Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004)
cabinet: 25 ministers; note - ministers are appointed by the
president and approved by the National Assembly
elections: the president and two vice presidents elected by direct
vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if no
candidate receives 50% or more of the vote in the first round of
voting, the two candidates with the most votes will participate in a
second round; election last held on 20 August 2009 (next to be held
in 2014)
election results: Hamid KARZAI reelected president; percent of vote
(first round) - Hamid KARZAI 49.67%, Abdullah ABDULLAH 30.59%,
Ramazan BASHARDOST 10.46%, Ashraf GHANI 2.94%; other 6.34%; note -
ABDULLAH conceded the election to KARZAI following the first round
vote
Akrotiri
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Major General Jamie GORDON (since
October 2008); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; the administrator
appointed by the monarch
Albania
chief of state: President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since
24 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September
2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,
nominated by the president, and approved by parliament
elections: president elected by the Assembly for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); four election rounds held between 8
and 20 July 2007 (next election to be held in 2012); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Bamir TOPI elected president; Assembly vote,
fourth round (three-fifths majority, 84 votes, required): Bamir TOPI
85 votes, Neritan CEKA 5 votes
Algeria
chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28
April 1999) note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government; a November 2008 constitutional amendment separated
the position of head of government from that of the prime minister
head of government: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April
1999)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
note - a November 2008 constitutional amendment abolished
presidential term limits; election last held on 9 April 2009 (next
to be held in April 2014)
election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA was reelected president for a
third term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 90.2%, Louisa
HANOUNE 4.2%, Moussa TOUATI 2.3%, Djahid YOUNSI 1.4%, Ali Fawzi
REBIANE less than 1%, Mohamed SAID less than 1%
American Samoa
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20
January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic
and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and
lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for
four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on
4 and 18 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO reelected governor; percent of
vote - Togiola TULAFONO 56.5%, Afoa Moega LUTU 43.5%
Andorra
chief of state: French Coprince Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16
May 2007); represented by Christian FREMONT (since September 2008)
and Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May
2003); represented by Nemesi MARQUES i Oste (since 30 July 2003)
head of government: Executive Council President Jaume BARTUMEU
Cassany (since 5 June 2009)
cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive
Council president
elections: Executive Council president elected by the General
Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year
term; election last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in
April-May 2013)
election results: Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY elected executive council
president; percent of General Council vote - NA
Angola
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979); Antonio Paulo KASSOMA was named prime minister by
MPLA on 26 September 2008
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by universal ballot for a five-year
term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under
the 1992 constitution; President DOS SANTOS was selected by the
party to take over after the death of former President Augustino
NETO(1979) under a one-party system and stood for reelection in
Angola's first multiparty elections on 29-30 September 1992 (next
were to be held in September 2009 but have been postponed)
election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI
40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was never
held leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president
Anguilla
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Alistair HARRISON (since 21 April 2009)
head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 February
2010)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the
elected members of the House of Assembly
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed
chief minister by the governor