istrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular-region) and 1
commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala,
Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992 but
is now being redrafted by President SASSOU-NGUESSO

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (inaugurated on 25
October 1997)
head of government: prime minister (vacant) appointed from the
majority party by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice
of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 August 1992 (next was to be held 27 July 1997
but will be delayed for several years pending the drafting of a new
constitution which will change term to seven years)
election results: Pascal LISSOUBA elected president; percent of
vote-Pascal LISSOUBA 61%, Bernard KOLELAS 39%

Legislative branch: bicameral parliament consists of an Assemblee
Nationale or National Assembly (125 seats, members are elected by
direct popular vote for five-year terms) and a Senat or Senate (60
seats, members are elected by direct popular vote for six-year terms);
note-the National Assembly which was elected on 3 October 1993 was
dissolved; it has been replaced by a transitional advisory parliament
of 75 members named by the National Reconciliation Forum of January
1998
elections: National Assembly-last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held
NA); Senate - last held November 1996 (next to be held NA)
election results: National Assembly-percent of vote by party-NA; seats
by party - UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3; Senate-percent of vote by
party-NA; seats by party-UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2,
others 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: the most important of the many
political parties are Congolese Labor Party or PCT [Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Association for Democracy and Development
or RDD [Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO, president]; Association for Democracy
and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA,
president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development
or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA, leader]; Pa