itution: approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most
articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed
to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule,
October 1994

Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rene Garcia PREVAL (since 7 February
1996), was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held by December
2000); results - Rene PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%
head of government: Prime Minister Rosny SMARTH (since March 1996)
was appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet; was chosen by prime minister in consultation with
the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee
Nationale)
Senate: elections last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August
and runoffs on 17 September (next to be held 25 June 1999); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - 27 total
Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on
13 August and runoffs on 17 September; results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - 83 total

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)

Political parties and leaders: National Front for Change and
Democracy (FNCD), Evans PAUL and Turneb DELPE; National Cooperative
Action Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH; National Congress of
Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT; Movement for the
Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National
Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge GILLES; National
Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean BELIZAIRE;
National Agricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis DEJOIE;
Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE; Haitian
Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Fritz PIERRE; Assembly of
Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT; National
Labor Party (PNT), Remy ZAMOR; Mobilization for National Development
(MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of
Haiti (MODELH), Francois LATORTUE; Haitian Social Christian Party
(PSCH), Gregoire EUGENE; Movement for the Organization of the
Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE; Democratic Unity
Confederation (KID), Evans PAUL; National Lavalas Political
Organization (OPL), Gerard P