13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud
ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash
Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran,
Tabuk

Independence:
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

National holiday:
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Constitution:
governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that
articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was
introduced in 1993

Legal system:
based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced;
commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
none adult male citizens age 21 or older
note: voter registration began in November 2004 for partial
municipal council elections scheduled nationwide for February
through April 2005

Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982, but largely incapacitated since late
1995); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud since 13 June 1982, also Saudi Arabian National
Guard Commander since 1963 and de facto ruler since early 1996; note
- the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: note - in October 2003, Council of Ministers announced
its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local
and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period
of four to five years; in November 2004, the Ministry of Municipal
and Rural Affairs initiated voter registration for partial municipal
council elections scheduled nationwide for February through April
2005
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982, but largely incapacitated since late
1995); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud since 13 June 1982, also Saudi Arabian National
Guard Commander since 1963 and de facto ruler since early 1996; note
- the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and
includes many royal family members

Legislative branch:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman
appointed by the monarch for four-yea