tional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah,
Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July
1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent
constitution

Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family
and personal matters

Suffrage: suffrage is limited to municipal elections

Executive branch: chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani
(since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir
KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM
bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown
prince by the monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed
forces elections: none; the monarch is hereditary head of government:
Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch
(since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al
Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998) cabinet: Council
of Ministers appointed by the monarch note: in March 1999, Qatar held
nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council, which has
consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35
seats; members appointed) note: the constitution calls for elections for
part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since
1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members
have had their terms extended every four years since

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: none

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS,
IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of