one
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His
Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin
Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967) is a traditional Islamic monarch
cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers is composed chiefly of members
of the royal family, appointed and presided over by the sultan;
deals with executive matters
Religious Council: is appointed by the sultan; advises on religious
matters
Privy Council: is appointed by the sultan; deals with constitutional
matters
the Council of Succession: is appointed by the sultan; determines
the succession to the throne if the need arises
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri): elections last held
in March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body
by decree of the sultan; an elected Legislative Council is being
considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are
unlikely for several years
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn
in by the sultan for a three-year term
Political parties and leaders: Brunei United National Party
(inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei National Solidarity
Party (the first legal political party and now banned), leader NA;
Brunei Peoples Party (banned), leader NA
International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador JAYA bin Abdul Latif
chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-0159
FAX: [1] (202) 342-0158
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Theresa A. TULL
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
Begawan
mailing address: American Embassy Box B, Bandar Seri Begawan, APO AP
96440
telephone: [673] (2) 229670
FAX: [673] (2) 225293
Flag: yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double
width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national
emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a
swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned
crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
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