Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in
1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no
judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
represented by Veguer Jean-Pierre COURTOIS (since NA); and Spanish
Coprince Episcopal Monseigneur Joan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January
1971) represented by Veguer Francesc BADIA Battalla (since NA)
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne
(since 21 December 1994)
cabinet: Executive Council designated by the Executive Council
president
elections: Executive Council president elected by the General
Council and formally appointed by the coprinces; election last held
16 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council
president; percent of General Council vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or
Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by
direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14
to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA February
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%,
ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party--UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan, France,
(two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge
appointed by the coprinces alternately); Ecclesiastical Court of the
Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain); Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal
des Cortes, (presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals
judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council)
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group or AND
note: there are two other small parties
International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICRM, IFRCS,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent
Representative to the UN)
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
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