ntional short form: Macau
local long form: none
local short form: Ilha de Macau

Data code: MC

Dependency status: Chinese territory under Portuguese
administration; note--scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999

Government type: NA

Capital: Macau

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos,
singular--concelho); Ilhas, Macau

Independence: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese
administration; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April
1987 to return Macau to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999;
in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing
social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after
transition)

National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)

Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; Macau's
future constitution, the "Basic Law", promulgated by China's
National People's Congress on 31 March 1993, will go into effect 20
December 1999

Legal system: Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO of Portugal (since 9 March
1996)
head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA
(since 20 March 1991)
cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members--five
appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five
elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies,
one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two
represent economic interests), and three statutory members
elections: Portuguese president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; governor general appointed by the Portuguese
president after consultation with the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8
elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the
governor; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--APPEM
2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UNIPRO 2, UPD 1, ANMD 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates
including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year
terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders: Uniao Promotora para o Progresso
note: there are no formal political parties, but civic associations
are used instead

Political press