definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.4%
male: 55.9%
female: 24.4% (2003 est.)

Government Iraq

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local short form: Al Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah

Government type:
none; note - the Iraqi Interim Government (IG) was appointed on 1
June 2004

Capital:
Baghdad

Administrative divisions:
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al
Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah,
At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan,
Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit

Independence:
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional
Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government

National holiday:
Revolution Day, 17 July (1968); note - this holiday was celebrated
under the SADDAM Husayn regime but the Iraqi Interim Government has
yet to declare a new national holiday

Constitution:
interim constitution signed 8 March 2004; note - the Transitional
Administrative Law (TAL) was enacted 8 March 2004 to govern the
country until an elected Iraqi Transitional Government can draft and
ratify a new constitution in 2005

Legal system:
based on civil and Islamic law under the Iraqi Interim Government
(IG) and Transitional Administrative Law (TAL)

Suffrage:
formerly 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Interim Iraqi Government (IG) President Ghazi
al-Ujayl al-YAWR (since 1 June 2004); Deputy Presidents Ibrahim
al-JAFARI and Rowsch SHAWAYS (since 1 June 2004); note - the
President and Deputy Presidents comprise the Presidency Council
head of government: Interim Iraqi Government (IG) Prime Minister
Ayad ALLAWI (since 28 June 2004)
cabinet: 31 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus a
Deputy Prime Minister, Barham SALIH
elections: scheduled to be held January 2005

Legislative branch:
Iraqi Interim National Council formed in July 2004

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court appointed by the Prime Minister, confirmed by the
Presidency Council

Political parties and leaders:
note - the Iraqi political parties included below reflect only the
major groups; new political parties continue to emerge, indicative
of a rapidly changing political