Russia
chief of state: President Dmitriy Anatolyevich MEDVEDEV
(since 7 May 2008)
head of government: Premier Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 8
May 2008); First Deputy Premiers Igor Ivanovich SHUVALOV and Viktor
Alekseyevich ZUBKOV (since 12 May 2008); Deputy Premiers Sergey
Borisovich IVANOV (since 12 May 2008), Aleksandr Gennadiyevich
KHLOPONIN (since 19 January 2010), Dmitriy Nikolayevich KOZAK (since
14 October 2008), Aleksey Leonidovich KUDRIN (since 24 September
2007), Igor Ivanovich SECHIN (since 12 May 2008), Vyacheslav
Viktorovich VOLODIN (since 21 October 2010), Aleksandr Dmitriyevich
ZHUKOV (since 9 March 2004)
cabinet: the "Government" is composed of the premier, his deputies,
and ministers; all are appointed by the president, and the premier
is also confirmed by the Duma
note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides
staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential
decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a
Security Council also reports directly to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 2 March 2008 (next
to be held in March 2012); note - the term length was extended to
six years in late 2008, to go into effect following the 2012
presidential election; there is no vice president; if the president
dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is
impeached, or resigns, the premier serves as acting president until
a new presidential election is held, which must be within three
months; premier appointed by the president with the approval of the
Duma
election results: Dmitriy MEDVEDEV elected president; percent of
vote - Dmitriy MEDVEDEV 70.2%, Gennady ZYUGANOV 17.7%, Vladimir
ZHIRINOVSKY 9.4%, Andrey BOGDANOV 1.3%
Rwanda
chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); elections last held on 9 August 2010
(next to be held in 2017)
election results: Paul KAGAME elected to a second term as president;
Paul KAGAME 93.1%, Jean NTAWUKURIRYAYO 5.1%, Prosper HIGIRO 1.4%,
Alvera MUKABAR 0.4%
Saint Barthelemy
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16
May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March
2007)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Bruno
MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory,
economic, social, and cultural council
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council
elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the
Territorial Council on 16 July 2007
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
chief of state: Queen
ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Andrew GURR (since 11 November 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio
officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch
Saint Kitts and Nevis
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville
SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation
with the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
Saint Lucia
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since
September 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson KING (since 9
September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office 7 September
2007
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
Saint Martin
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May
2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Frantz
GUMBS (since 5 May 2009)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory
economic, social, and cultural council
election: French president elected by popular vote to a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council
elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Frantz GUMBS elected president by the Territorial
Council on 7 August 2008 but election was declared invalid on 10
April 2009
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY
(since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Jean-Regis BORIUS (since
29 October 2009)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Stephane
ARTANO (since 21 February 2007)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held on 6 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012);
prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council
elected by the members of the council
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir
Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29
March 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the
governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister
Samoa
chief of state: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA
(since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of
state on the prime minister's advice
elections: chief of state elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 15
June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime
minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative
Assembly
election results: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by
the Legislative Assembly