on Day, 15 August

Constitution: 5 October 1921

Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, who is
a hereditary monarch, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir
Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968)
head of government: Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy
Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993) were
elected by the Landtag for a four-year term and confirmed by the
prince
cabinet: Cabinet was elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince

Legislative branch: unicameral
Diet (Landtag): elections last held on 24 October 1993 (next to be
held by March 1997); results - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats -
(25 total) VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal
cases; Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases

Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Oswald
KRANTZ; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Otmar HASLER; The Free
List (FL)

International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA,
IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: Liechtenstein does not have an
embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in
routine diplomatic matters

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has
consular accreditation in Vaduz

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold
crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy
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Economic overview: Despite its small size and limited natural
resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly
industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital service sector
and living standards on par with the urban areas of its large
European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 18%
- and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 holding or
so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in
Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country
participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss
franc as its national currency. Liechtens