United Kingdom
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14
November 1948)
head of government: Prime Minister David CAMERON (since 11 May 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually the prime minister
United States
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20
January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January
2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January
2009); Vice President Joseph BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each
state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible
for a second term); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be
held on 6 November 2012)
election results: Barack H. OBAMA elected president; percent of
popular vote - Barack H. OBAMA 52.4%, John MCCAIN 46.3%, other 1.3%;
Uruguay
chief of state: President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since
1 March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March
2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jose "Pepe" MUJICA Cordano (since 1
March 2010); Vice President Danilo ASTORI Saragoza (since 1 March
2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms (may not serve consecutive
terms); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in
October 2014)
election results: Jose "Pepe" MUJICA elected president; percent of
vote - Jose "Pepe" MUJICA 54.8%, Luis Alberto LACALLE 45.2%
Uzbekistan
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March
1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet;
elected president of independent Uzbekistan in 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11
December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2
January 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with
approval of the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term,
extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held on
23 December 2007 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister,
ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote
- Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Asliddin RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom
T0SHMUHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%
Vanuatu
chief of state: President Iolu Johnson ABBIL (since 3
September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 2 December
2010); note - Edward NATAPEI loses office in a no confidence vote on
2 December 2010
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to parliament
elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral
college consisting of parliament and the presidents of the regional
councils; election for president last held on 2 September 2009 (next
to be held in 2014); following legislative elections, the leader of
the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime
minister by parliament from among its members; election for prime
minister last held on 22 September 2008 (next to be held following
general elections in 2012)
election results: Iolu Johnson ABBIL elected president, with 41
votes out of 58, on the third ballot on 2 September 2009
Venezuela
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3
February 1999); Executive Vice President Elias JAUA Milano (since 26
January 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Executive Vice President Elias JAUA Milano (since 26 January
2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for unlimited reelection); election last held on 3
December 2006 (next to be held in December 2012)
note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new
constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an
election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of
this constitution; in 2009, a national referendum approved the
elimination of term limits on all elected officials, including the
presidency
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of
vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%
Vietnam
chief of state: President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June
2006); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June
2006); Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28
June 2006), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung HAI (since 2 August
2007), Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien NHAN (since 2 August
2007), Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia KHIEM (since 28 June 2006),
and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh TRONG (since 28 June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime
minister and confirmed by National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
members for five-year term; last election held 27 June 2006 (next to
be held in January 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime
ministers appointed by the prime minister; appointment of prime
minister and deputy prime ministers confirmed by National Assembly
election results: Nguyen Minh TRIET elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 94%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime
minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 92%
Virgin 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 John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet: NA
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections
for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the
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 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2014)
election results: John DeJONGH reelected governor; percent of vote -
John DeJONGH 56.3%, Kenneth MAPP 43.6%
Wallis and Futuna
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since
16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Michel JEANJEAN
(since 10 June 2010)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Victor
BRIAL (since 11 December 2007)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members
appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial
Assembly
note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the
Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly elected by the
members of the assembly
Western Sahara
none