Canada
head of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General David JOHNSTON (since 1 October 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephen Joseph HARPER (since 6
February 2006)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from
among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year
term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of
Commons generally designated prime minister by the governor general
Cape Verde
chief of state: President Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES
(since 22 March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1
February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 February 2006
(next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by the National
Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote -
Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%
Cayman Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor Duncan TAYLOR (since 15 January 2010)
head of government: Premier McKeeva BUSH (since 6 November 2009)
cabinet: The Cabinet (six members are appointed by the governor on
the advice of the premier, selected from among the elected members
of the Legislative Assembly)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or coalition appointed by the governor as premier
Central African Republic
chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE
(since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Faustin-Archange TOUADERA (since
22 January 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on
13 March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held on 23 January 2011); prime
minister appointed by the political party with a parliamentary
majority
election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of
second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE
(MLPC) 35.4%
Chad
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4
December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Emmanuel NADINGAR (since 5 March
2010)
cabinet: Council of State; members are appointed by the president on
the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two
candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second round of
voting; last election held on 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May
2011); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire
KOUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%,
Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum
altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and
permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection
Chile
chief of state: President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11
March 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Sebastian PINERA Echenique (since 11
March 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single four-year
term; election last held on 13 December 2009 with runoff election
held on 17 January 2010 (next to be held in December 2013)
election results: Sebastian PINERA Echenique elected president;
percent of vote - Sebastian PINERA Echenique 51.6%; Eduardo FREI
48.4%
China
chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003);
Vice President XI Jinping (since 15 March 2008)
head of government: Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003);
Executive Vice Premier LI Keqiang (17 March 2008), Vice Premier HUI
Liangyu (since 17 March 2003), Vice Premier ZHANG Dejiang (since 17
March 2008), and Vice Premier WANG Qishan (since 17 March 2008)
cabinet: State Council appointed by National People's Congress
elections: president and vice president elected by National People's
Congress for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held on 15-17 March 2008 (next to be held in
mid-March 2013); premier nominated by president, confirmed by
National People's Congress
election results: HU Jintao elected president by National People's
Congress with a total of 2,963 votes; XI Jinping elected vice
president with a total of 2,919 votes
Christmas Island
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952) represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Brian LACY (since 5 October 2009)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by
the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Brian LACY (since 5
October 2009)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by
the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Colombia
chief of state: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon
(since 7 August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7
August 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon (since 7
August 2010); Vice President Angelino GARZON (since 7 August 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for
a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on
30 May 2010 with a runoff election 20 June 2010 (next to be held in
May 2014)
election results: Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon elected president in
runoff election; percent of vote - Juan Manuel SANTOS Calderon
69.06%, Antanas MOCKUS 27.52%