ern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered
UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution: 16 September 1975

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor General Sir Silas ATOPARE (since 13
November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Sir Mekere MORAUTA
(since 14 July 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Michael OGIO (since 3 November
2000) cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none;
the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the National
Executive Council; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed
by the governor general for up to five years on the basis of majority
support in National Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred
to as the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates
and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be
held 15 June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP 15%,
Pangu Pati 14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%,
independents 33%; seats by party - PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9,
PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note - association
with political parties is very fluid

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the
governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after
consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges
are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)

Political parties and leaders: Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [leader
NA]; National Alliance or NA [George MANDA, party president]; National
Front Party [leader NA]; National Party or NP [Michael MEL]; Papua New
Guinea Revival Party [John PUNDARI]; Papua New Guinea United Party or
Pangu Pati [Chris HAIVETA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Ted DIRO];
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's
Labor Party or PLP [Peter YAMA]; People's National Congress or PNC
[Bill SKATE]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Michael NALI]; People's
Unity Party or PUP [Alfred