|
| Country name: |
conventional long form:
State of Qatar
conventional short form:
Qatar
local long form:
Dawlat Qatar
local short form:
Qatar
note:
closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
|
| Government type: |
traditional monarchy
|
| Administrative divisions: |
9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal
|
| Independence: |
3 September 1971 (from UK)
|
| National holiday: |
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
|
| Constitution: |
provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution
|
| Legal system: |
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
|
| Suffrage: |
suffrage is limited to municipal elections
|
| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by the monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces
head of government:
Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary
note:
in March 1999 Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council, which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services
|
| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
note:
the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have their terms extended every four years since
|
| Judicial branch: |
Court of Appeal
|
| Political parties and leaders: |
none
|
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
none
|
| International organization participation: |
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA
chancery:
4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone:
[1] (202) 274-1600
FAX:
[1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general:
Houston
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Elizabeth Davenport MCKUNE
embassy:
22 February Road, Doha
mailing address:
P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone:
[974] 488 4101
FAX:
[974] 488 4298
note:
workweek is Saturday-Wednesday
|
| Flag description: |
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
|
|
|
|
