Independence Day, 26 May (1991)

Constitution: adopted 17 October 1995

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
(previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March
1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman
of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995;
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
(previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March
1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman
of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995;
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of
vote--Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred
to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--CUG 24%, NDP 8%, AGUR 7%,
all other parties received less than 5% each; seats by party--CUG
107, NDP 34, AGUR 32, Progress Bloc 4, SPG 4, others 9, Abkazian
deputies 12, independents 29, not filled 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme
Council on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG
groups: Democratic Union of Georgia or DUG, Political Association
"Georgian Proprietors"--Electoral Association "T'bilisi", Political
Union of Young Democrats "Our Choice", Political Union Tanadgoma)

Political pressure groups and leaders: supporters of the late
ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA remain a source of opposition;
separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia; Georgian
refugees from Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament)

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest),
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol,