, several secular codes have been introduced;
commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
adult male citizens age 21 or older
note: voter registration began in November 2004 for partial
municipal council elections held nationwide from February through
April 2005

Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin
Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January
1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz
Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin
Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January
1928)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four
years and includes many royal family members
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance
Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a
committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future
Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after
Crown Prince Sultan becomes king

Legislative branch:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman
appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - in October
2003, Council of Ministers announced its intent to introduce
elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies
and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or
Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period of four to five years;
in November 2004, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs
initiated voter registration for partial municipal council elections
held nationwide from February through April 2005

Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassado