Niger
chief of state: Djibo SALOU, chairman of the Supreme Council
for the Restoration of Democracy, and a leader of the military coup
that deposed President Mamadou TANDJA on 18 February 2010
head of government: Prime Minister Mahamadou DANDA (since 19
February 2010); appointed by the president and shares some executive
responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president (Cabinet
dissolved following the 18 February 2010 coup)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); second round of election last held on
4 December 2004; a presidential election to restore civilian rule is
scheduled for 31 January 2011
election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of
vote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%
Nigeria
chief of state: President Goodluck JONATHAN (since 5 May
2010, acting since 9 February 2010); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government; JONATHAN assumed the
presidency on 5 May 2010 following the death of President YAR'ADUA,
he was declared Acting President on 9 February 2010 by the National
Assembly during the extended illness of the former president
head of government: President Goodluck JONATHAN (since 5 May 2010,
acting since 9 February 2010)
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 April 2007
(next to be held on 22 January 2011)
election results: Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA elected president; percent of
vote - Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA 69.8%, Muhammadu BUHARI 18.7%, Atiku
ABUBAKAR 7.5%, Orji Uzor KALU 1.7%, other 2.3%
Niue
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); the UK and New Zealand are represented by
New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since May 2000)
head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; premier elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held on 18
June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in
Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5
Norfolk Island
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council made up of 4 of the 9 members of the
Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts
as an advisor to the administrator
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by
the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Northern Mariana Islands
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA
(since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20
January 2009)
head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January
2006); Lieutenant Governor Eloy S. INOS (since 1 May 2009)
cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal
departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the
governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members
include special assistants to the governor and office heads
appointed by and reporting directly to the governor
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice
president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican
party 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 7 November
2009 (run-off election was held on 23 November 2009)
election results: percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL reelected with
51.4% over Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (48.6%) in the run-off election held
on 23 November 2009
Norway
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20
July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17
October 2005)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
parliament
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
with the approval of the parliament
Oman
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said
Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July
1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said
Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July
1972)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary
Pakistan
chief of state: President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 9
September 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI (since 25
March 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the
prime minister
elections: the president elected by secret ballot through an
Electoral College comprising the members of the Senate, National
Assembly, and the provincial assemblies for a five-year term;
election last held on 6 September 2008 (next to be held not later
than 2013); note - any person who is a Muslim and not less than 45
years of age and is qualified to be elected as a member of the
National Assembly can contest the presidential election; the prime
minister selected by the National Assembly; election last held on 24
March 2008
election results: Asif Ali ZARDARI elected president; ZARDARI 481
votes, SIDDIQUE 153 votes, SYED 44 votes; Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI
elected prime minister; GILANI 264 votes, Pervaiz ELAHI 42 votes;
several abstentions
Palau
chief of state: President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January
2009); Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January
2009); Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009)
cabinet: NA
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November
2012)
election results: Johnson TORIBIONG (51%) defeats Elias Camsek CHIN
(49%) for president; Kerai MARIUR elected vice president
Panama
chief of state: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since
1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2009);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1
July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms (not eligible for immediate
reelection; president and vice president must sit out two additional
terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election
last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal elected president;
percent of vote - Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal 60%, Balbina HERRERA
38%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 2%
note: government coalition - CD (Democratic Change), Panamenista,
MOLIRENA (Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement), and UP
(Patriotic Union Party)