| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Maldives
conventional short form:
Maldives
local long form:
Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form:
Dhivehi Raajje
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| Government type: |
republic
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| Administrative divisions: |
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
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| Independence: |
26 July 1965 (from UK)
|
| National holiday: |
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
|
| Constitution: |
adopted January 1998
|
| Legal system: |
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
| Suffrage: |
21 years of age; universal
|
| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majlis
elections:
president nominated by the Majlis and then that nomination must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval margin is required); president elected for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003)
election results:
President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.9%
|
| Legislative branch: |
unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held 20 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 42
|
| Judicial branch: |
High Court
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| Political parties and leaders: |
although political parties are not banned, none exist
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
none
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| International organization participation: |
AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
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| Flag description: |
red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag
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