e provisions of the
constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up of members
of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and
district councils
elections: last held 18 September 2005 (next to be held for the
Wolesi Jirga by September 2009; next to be held for the provincial
councils to the Meshrano Jirga by September 2008)
election results: the single non-transferable vote (SNTV) system
used in the election did not make use of political party slates;
most candidates ran as independents

Judicial branch:
the constitution establishes a nine-member Stera Mahkama or Supreme
Court (its nine justices are appointed for 10-year terms by the
president with approval of the Wolesi Jirga) and subordinate High
Courts and Appeals Courts; there is also a minister of justice; a
separate Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission established by
the Bonn Agreement is charged with investigating human rights abuses
and war crimes

Political parties and leaders:
note - includes only political parties approved by the Ministry of
Justice; De Afghan Watan Islami Gond [Mohammad Osman SALEKZADA]; De
Afghanistan De Mili Mubarizeeno Islami Gond [Amanat NINGARHAREE]; De
Afghanistan De Mili Wahdat Wolesi Tahreek [Abdul Hakim NOORZAI]; De
Afghanistan De Solay Ghorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI]; De Afghanistan
De Solay Mili Islami Gond [Shah Mohammood Popal ZAI]; Hezb-e
Esteqlal-e-Mili Afghanistan [Taj Mohammad WARDAK]; Hezb-e
Hambastagee Mili Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zarif NASERI]; Hezb-e
Harakat-e-Islami-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Ali JAWID]; Hezb-e
Jamihat-e-Islami [Ustad RABBANI]; Hezb-e Paiwand Mihahani
Afghanistan [Sayed Kamal SADAT];
Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE];
Hezb-e-Aazaadi Khwahan Maihan [Abdul Hadi DABEER]; Hezb-e-Aazadee
Khwahan Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Feda Mohammad EHSAS];
Hezb-e-Adalat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Kabir MARZBAN];
Hezb-e-Afghan Melat [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Naween
[Mohammad Yunis QANUNI]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid [Mohammad Wasil
RAHIMEE]; Hezb-e-Azadee-e-Afghanistan [Ilaj Abdul MALEK];
Hezb-e-Democracy Afghanistan [Tawos ARAB];
Hezb-e-Domcrat-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Kabir RANJBAR];
Hezb-e-Eatedal-e-Mili Islami-e-Afghanistan [Qara Bik Eized YAAR];
Hezb-e-Eqtedar-e-Mili [Sayed Mustafa KAZEMI];
Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad ZAREEF];
Hezb-e-