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 i