e); Macau (Portuguese)

Dependency status:
special administrative region of China

Government type:
limited democracy

Administrative divisions:
none (special administrative region of China)

Independence:
none (special administrative region of China)

National holiday:
National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic
of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated
as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Constitution:
Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's
Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"

Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage:
direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents
living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited
to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently
registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad
regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government
bodies

Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20
December 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary,
four legislators, four businessmen, and one pro-Beijing unionist
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee
for up to two five-year terms
election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected on 29 August 2004;
received 296 votes in Election Committee out of 300 possible; 3
members submitted blank ballots; 1 member was absent

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (29 seats; 12 elected by
popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and seven appointed by the chief
executive; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 26 September 2005 (next in September 2009)
election results: percent of vote - Development Union 12.8%, Macau
Development Alliance 9%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16%, New
Democratic Macau Association 18.2%, others na; seats by political
group - Development Union 2, Macau Development Alliance 1, Macau
United Citizens' Association 2, New Democratic Macau Association 2,
New Hope 1, Union Forces 2, others 2; 10 seats filled by
professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief
executive

Judicial branch:
Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrat