Madagascar:based on French civil law system and traditionalMalagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Malawi:based on English common law and customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Malaysia:based on English common law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head ofthe federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Maldives:based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common lawprimarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Mali:based on French civil law system and customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which wasformally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Malta:based on English common law and Roman civil law; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Man, Isle of:English common law and Manx statute
Marshall Islands:based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of thelegislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Martinique:French legal system
Mauritania:a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civillaw
Mauritius:based on French civil law system with elements of Englishcommon law in certain areas
Mayotte:French law
Mexico:mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system;judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Micronesia, Federated States of: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Midway Islands:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Moldova:based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviewslegality of legislative acts and governmental decisions ofresolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security andCooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents
Monaco:based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Mongolia:blend of Russian, Chinese, Turkish, and Western systems oflaw that combines aspects of a parliamentary system with someaspects of a presidential system; constitution ambiguous on judicialreview of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Montserrat:English common law and statutory law
Morocco:based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil lawsystem; judicial review of legislative acts in ConstitutionalChamber of Supreme Court
Mozambique:based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Namibia:based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Nauru:acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Navassa Island:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Nepal:based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Netherlands:civil law system incorporating French penal theory;constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the StatesGeneral; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Netherlands Antilles:based on Dutch civil law system, with someEnglish common law influence
New Caledonia:the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomyto the islands; formerly under French law
New Zealand:based on English law, with special land legislation andland courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Nicaragua:civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrativeacts
Niger:based on French civil law system and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Nigeria:based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (only insome northern states), and traditional law
Niue:English common law
Norfolk Island:based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances andacts; English common law applies in matters not covered by eitherAustralian or Norfolk Island law
Northern Mariana Islands:based on US system, except for customs,wages, immigration laws, and taxation
Norway:mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common lawtraditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislaturewhen asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Oman:based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appealto the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Pakistan:based on English common law with provisions to accommodatePakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Palau:based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,municipal, common, and customary laws
Palmyra Atoll:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Panama:based on civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Papua New Guinea:based on English common law
Paraguay:based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes;judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
Peru:based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Philippines:based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Pitcairn Islands:local island by-laws
Poland:mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdovercommunist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as partof broader democratization process; limited judicial review oflegislative acts although under the new constitution, theConstitutional Tribunal ruling will become final as of October 1999;court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice inStrasbourg
Portugal:civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews theconstitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Puerto Rico:based on Spanish civil code
Qatar:discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, althoughcivil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant inpersonal matters
Reunion:French law
Romania:former mixture of civil law system and communist legaltheory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Russia:based on civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts
Rwanda:based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customarylaw; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Saint Helena:NA
Saint Kitts and Nevis:based on English common law
Saint Lucia:based on English common law
Saint Pierre and Miquelon:French law with special adaptations forlocal conditions, such as housing and taxation
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:based on English common law
Samoa:based on English common law and local customs; judicialreview of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of thecitizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
San Marino:based on civil law system with Italian law influences;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sao Tome and Principe:based on Portuguese legal system andcustomary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Saudi Arabia:based on Islamic law, several secular codes have beenintroduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Senegal:based on French civil law system; judicial review oflegislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of Stateaudits the government's accounting office; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Seychelles:based on English common law, French civil law, andcustomary law
Sierra Leone:based on English law and customary laws indigenous tolocal tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Singapore:based on English common law; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Slovakia:civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to complywith the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation inEurope (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Slovenia:based on civil law system
Solomon Islands:English common law
Somalia:NA
South Africa:based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:the laws of the UK,where applicable, apply
Spain:civil law system, with regional applications; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sri Lanka:a highly complex mixture of English common law,Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sudan:based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamiclaw in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents ofthe northern states regardless of their religion; some separatereligious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Suriname:based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penaltheory
Svalbard:NA
Swaziland:based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutorycourts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sweden:civil law system influenced by customary law; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Switzerland:civil law system influenced by customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decreesof general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Syria:based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religiouscourts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Tajikistan:based on civil law system; no judicial review oflegislative acts
Tanzania:based on English common law; judicial review oflegislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Thailand:based on civil law system, with influences of common law;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Togo:French-based court system
Tokelau:British and local statutes
Tonga:based on English law
Trinidad and Tobago:based on English common law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Tromelin Island:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Tunisia:based on French civil law system and Islamic law; somejudicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in jointsession
Turkey:derived from various European continental legal systems;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Turkmenistan:based on civil law system
Turks and Caicos Islands:based on laws of England and Wales, with asmall number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Tuvalu:NA
Uganda:in 1995, the government restored the legal system to onebased on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Ukraine:based on civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts
United Arab Emirates:federal court system introduced in 1971; allemirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah have joined thefederal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil,criminal, and high courts
United Kingdom:common law tradition with early Roman and moderncontinental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; Britishcourts and legislation are increasingly subject to review byEuropean Union courts
United States:based on English common law; judicial review oflegislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Uruguay:based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Uzbekistan:evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independentjudicial system
Vanuatu:unified system being created from former dual French andBritish systems
Venezuela:based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarialcourt system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Vietnam:based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Virgin Islands:based on US laws
Wake Island:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Wallis and Futuna:French legal system
World:all members of the UN plus Switzerland are parties to thestatute that established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) orWorld Court
Yemen:based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, andlocal tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Yugoslavia:based on civil law system
Zambia:based on English common law and customary law; judicialreview of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Zimbabwe:mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
Taiwan:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
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@Legislative branch
Afghanistan:non-functioning as of June 1993
Albania:unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some byproportional vote for four-year terms)
elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next held 24 June 2001, 2nd round 8 July 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3
Algeria:bicameral Parliament consists of the National People'sAssembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council ofNations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by thepresident, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members servesix-year terms; the constitution requires half the council to berenewed every three years)
elections: National People's Assembly - last held 5 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); Council of Nations - last held 30 December 2000 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - RND 40.8%, MSP 18.2%, FLN 16.8%, Nahda Movement 8.9%, FFS 5%, RCD 5%, PT 1.1%, Progressive Republican Party 0.8%, Union for Democracy and Liberty 0.3%, Social Liberal Party 0.3%, independents 2.8%; seats by party - RND 155, MSP 69, FLN 64, Nahda Movement 34, FFS 19, RCD 19, PT 4, Progressive Republican Party 3, Union for Democracy and Liberty 1, Social Liberal Party 1, independents 11; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 79, FLN 12, FFS 4, MSP 1 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president, party breakdown NA)
American Samoa:bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists ofthe House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected bypopular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from SwainsIsland; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats;members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2000(next to be held NA November 2002); Senate - last held 7 November2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - only independents elected
note: American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate for a sixth term
Andorra:unicameral General Council of the Valleys or ConsellGeneral de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by directpopular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 torepresent 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%, IDN7%, ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party - UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO2
Angola:unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7
Anguilla:unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected bydirect popular vote, 2 ex officio members and 2 appointed; membersserve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 March 2000 (next to be held NA March 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UF 4, AUM 2, independent 1
Antigua and Barbuda:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate(17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House ofRepresentatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportionalrepresentation to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 9 March 1999 (nextto be held NA March 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -ALP 12, UPP 4, independent 1
Argentina:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consistsof the Senate (72 seats; formerly, three members appointed by eachof the provincial legislatures; presently transitioning to one-thirdof the members being elected every two years to six-year terms) andthe Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; one-half of the members electedevery two years to four-year terms)
elections: Senate - transition phase will begin in the 2001 elections when all seats will be fully contested; winners will randomly draw to determine whether they will serve a two-year, four-year, or full six-year term, beginning a rotating cycle renovating one-third of the body every two years; Chamber of Deputies - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2001)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - Peronist 40, UCR 20, Frepaso 1, other 11; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - Alliance 124 (UCR 85, Frepaso 36, others 3), Peronist 101, AR 12, other 20
Armenia:unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or AzgayinZhoghov (131 seats; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held in the spring of 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - unity bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20), Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a bloc) 21, ACP 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6, Law-Governed Party 6, independents 10, unfilled 2; note - seats by party change frequently
Aruba:unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members electedby direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NADecember 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 43%, MEP 39%, OLA9% PPA 4%, ADN 2%, PARA 1%, MAS 0.5%; seats by party - AVP 10, MEP9, OLA 2
Australia:bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the twoterritories; one-half of the members elected every three years bypopular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on thebasis of proportional representation to serve three-year terms; nostate can have fewer than five representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001); House of Representatives - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 35, Australian Labor Party 29, Australian Democratic Party 9, Green Party 1, One Nation Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 80, Australian Labor Party 67, independent 1
Austria:bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists ofFederal Council or Bundesrat (64 members; members represent each ofthe states on the basis of population, but with each state having atleast three representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term)and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members electedby direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Council - last held 3 October 1999 (next to be held in the fall of 2003)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party -SPOe 33.2%, OeVP 26.9%, FPOe 26.9%, Greens 7.4%; seats by party -SPOe 65, OeVP 52, FPOe 52, Greens 14
Azerbaijan:unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NAP and allies 108, APF 6, CSP 3, PNIA 2, Musavat Party 2, CPA 2,APF "traditionalist" 1, Compatriot Party 1
Bahamas, The:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-memberbody appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the primeminister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and theHouse of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular voteto serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 March 1997 (next to be held by March 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -FNM 35, PLP 5
Bahrain:unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointedAdvisory Council established 16 December 1992; the National ActionCharter created a bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000;approved by referendum of 14 February 2001
Bangladesh:unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad (330seats; 300 elected by popular vote from single territorialconstituencies, 30 seats reserved for women; members serve five-yearterms)
elections: last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held before 13October 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%; seats by party - AL 178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 3; note - the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an Awami League government for the first time in twenty-one years; held under a neutral, caretaker administration, the elections were characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massive voter turnout, ending a bitter two-year impasse between the former BNP and opposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to widespread street violence
Barbados:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-memberbody appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly(28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to servefive-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 20 January 1999 (next tobe held by January 2004)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - BLP 26, DLP 2
Belarus:bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists ofthe Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats) and theChamber of Representatives or Palata Pretsaviteley (110 seats)
elections: last held October 2000 (next to be held NA)
election results: party affiliation data unavailable; under present political conditions party designations are meaningless
Belgium:bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat inDutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected bypopular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-yearterms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer vanVolksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants inFrench (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote onthe basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held in NA 2003)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, CVP 14.7%, PRL 10.6%, PS 9.7%, VB 9.4%, SP 8.9%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.1%, PSC 6.0%, VU 5.1%; seats by party - VLD 11, CVP 10, PS 10, PRL 9, VB 6, SP 6, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, PSC 5, VU 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 14.3%, CVP 14.1%, PS 10.2%, PRL 10.1%, VB 9.9%, SP 9.5%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.0%, PSC 5.9%, VU 5.6%; seats by party - VLD 23, CVP 22, PS 19, PRL 18, VB 15, SP 14, ECOLO 11, PSC 10, AGALEV 9, VU 8, FN 1
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leaders
Belize:bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (eightmembers, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two onthe advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the governorgeneral; members are appointed for five-year terms); and the Houseof Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popularvote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 27 August 1998(next to be held by NA August 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 59.2%, UDP 40.8%;seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 3
Benin:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-yearterms)
elections: last held 30 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -RB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEP 6, E'toile 4, AllianceIPD 4, Car-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7
Bermuda:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-memberbody appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly (40 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP1%, independents 1%; seats by party - PLP 26, UBP 14
Bhutan:unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies,and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government andother secular interests; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: NA
Bolivia:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consistsof Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members aredirectly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) andChamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; members aredirectly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note -some members are drawn from party lists, thus not directly elected)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held1 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - ADN 11, MIR 7, MNR 4, CONDEPA 3, UCS 2;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party- ADN 32, MNR 26, MIR 23, UCS 21, CONDEPA 19, MBL 5, IU 4
Bosnia and Herzegovina:bicameral Parliamentary Assembly orSkupstina consists of the National House of Representatives orPredstavnicki Dom (42 seats - 14 Serb, 14 Croat, and 14 Bosniak;members elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) and theHouse of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House ofRepresentatives and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly toserve two-year terms); note - as of 1 January 2001, Bosnia andHerzegovina does not have a permanent election law; a draft lawspecifies four-year terms for the state and first-orderadministrative division entity legislatures; officials elected in2000 were elected to two-year terms on the presumption that apermanent law would be in place before 2002
elections: National House of Representatives - elections last held 11 November 2000 (next to be held in the fall of 2002); House of Peoples - last constituted after the 11 November 2000 elections (next to be constituted in the fall of 2002)
election results: National House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDP 9, SDA 8, SDS 6, HDZ-BiH 5, SBH 5, PDP 2, NHI 1, BPS 1, DPS 1, SNS 1, SNSD-DSP 1, DNZ 1, SPRS 1; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA%; seats by party/coalition - NA
note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that consists of a House of Representatives (140 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 11 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2002); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 38, SDP 37, HDZ-BiH 25, SBH 21, DNZ 3, NHI 2, BPS 2, DPS 2, BOSS 2, GDS 1, RP 1, HSS 1, LDS 1, Pensioners' Party of FBiH 1, SNSD-DSP 1, HKDU 1, HSP 1; and a House of Peoples (74 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30 Croat, and 14 others); last constituted November 2000; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 11 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2002); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDS 31, PDP 11, SNSD 11, SDA 6, DSP 4, SDP 4, SPRS 4, SBH 4, DNS 3, SNS 2, NHI 1, DSRS 1, Pensioners' Party 1; as of 1 January 2001, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a permanent election law; a draft law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order administrative division entity legislatures; officials elected in 2000 were elected to two-year terms on the presumption that a permanent law would be in place before 2002
Botswana:bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (alargely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of theeight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three membersselected by the other 12) and the National Assembly (44 seats, 40members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 appointed by themajority party; members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly elections last held 16 October 1999(next to be held NA October 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 57.2%, BNF 26%,other 16.8%; seats by party - BDP 33, BNF 6, other 1
Brazil:bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consistsof the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three membersfrom each state or federal district elected according to theprinciple of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third electedafter a four year period, two-thirds elected after the nextfour-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dosDeputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportionalrepresentation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Senate - last held 4 October 1998 for one-third of Senate (next to be held NA October 2002 for two-thirds of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 4 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMDB 27, PFL 20, PSDB 16, PT 7, PPB 5, PSB 3, PDT 2, PPS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PFL 106, PSDB 99, PMDB 82, PPB 60, PT 58, PTB 31, PDT 25, PSB 19, PL 12, PCdoB 7, other 14
British Virgin Islands:unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members servefive-year terms)
elections: last held 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -VIP 7, CCM 1, NDP 5
Brunei:unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (aprivy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats;members appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held in March 1962
note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years
Bulgaria:unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -National Movement for Simeon II 120, UDF 51, BSP 48, DPS 21
Burkina Faso:bicameral; consists of a National Assembly orAssemblee des Deputes Populaires (111 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely consultativeChamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants (178 seats;members are appointed to serve three-year terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held 11 May 1997 (nextto be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -CDP 101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2
Burma:unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NLD 392, SNLD 23, NUP 10, other 60
Burundi:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (121seats; note - new Transitional Constitution expanded the number ofseats from 81 to 121 in 1998; members are elected by popular vote ona proportional basis to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, various other parties 40
Cambodia:bicameral consists of the National Assembly (122 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and theSenate (61 seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two electedby the National Assembly, and 57 elected by "functionalconstituencies"; members serve five-year terms
elections: National Assembly - last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party - CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15; Senate - seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7
Cameroon:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-yearterms; note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the termof the legislature)
elections: last held 17 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RDCP 109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC 1; note - results from 7 contested seats were cancelled by the Supreme Court, further elections on 3 August 1997 gave these seats to the RDPC
note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Canada:bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate orSenat (a body whose members are appointed to serve until reaching 75years of age by the governor general and selected on the advice ofthe prime minister; its normal limit is 104 senators) and the Houseof Commons or Chambre des Communes (301 seats; members elected bydirect popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Commons - last held 27 November 2000 (next to be held 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party as of January 2001 - Liberal Party 42%, Canadian Alliance 22%, Bloc Quebecois 13%, New Democratic Party 4%, Progressive Conservative Party 4%; seats by party as of January 2001 - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12
Cape Verde:unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA December2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 47.3%, MPD39.8%, ADM 6%, other 6.9%; seats by party - PAICV 40, MPD 30, ADM 2
Cayman Islands:unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, threeappointed members and 15 elected by popular vote; members servefour-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
Central African Republic:unicameral National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms; note - there were 85 seats in the National Assemblybefore the 1998 election)
elections: last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD 9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%, independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD 6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7
note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together they are called the Congress or Congres
Chad:unicameral National Assembly (125 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms); replaces the HigherTransitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de Transition
elections: National Assembly - last held in two rounds on 5 January and 23 February 1997 (next to be held in late 2001); in the first round of voting some candidates won clear victories by receiving 50% or more of the vote; where that did not happen, the two highest scoring candidates stood for a second round of voting
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -MPS 65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13
Chile:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists ofthe Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote and 10appointed (all former presidents who served 6 years are senators forlife); members serve eight-year terms - one-half elected every fouryears) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPD (PDC 14, PS 4, PPD 2), RN 7, UDI 10, UCCP 1, independents 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS 11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%), RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%; seats by party - CPD 70 (PDC 39, PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), RN 24, UDI 21, Socialist Party 1, right-wing independents 4
China:unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo RenminDaibiao Dahui (2,979 seats; members elected by municipal, regional,and provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 1997-NA February 1998 (next to be held late 2002-NA March 2003)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
Christmas Island: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
Cocos (Keeling) Islands:unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands ShireCouncil (NA seats)
Colombia:bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate orSenado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara deRepresentantes (163 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 8 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002); House of Representatives - last held 8 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PL 50%, PSC 24%, smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%; seats by party - PL 58, PSC 28, smaller parties 16; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PL 52%, PSC 17%, other 31%; seats by party - PL 98, PSC 52, indigenous parties 2, others 11
Comoros:bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats:five from each island); members selected by regional councils forsix-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms);note - the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30April 1999
elections: Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (nextto be held NA)
election results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1
note: the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in opposition, but if no party accomplishes that, the second most successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: a 300-member Transitional Constituent Assembly established in August 2000
elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly were appointed by former President KABILA
Congo, Republic of the:unicameral National Transitional Council (75seats, members elected by reconciliation forum of 1,420 delegates onNA January 1998); note - the National Transitional Council replacedthe bicameral Parliament
elections: National Transitional Council - last held NA January 1998 (next to be held NA 2001); note - at that election the National Transitional Council is to be replaced by a bicameral assembly
election results: National Transitional Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
Cook Islands:unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1
note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters,but has no legislative powers
Costa Rica:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa(57 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to servefour-year terms)
elections: last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held 3 February 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - PUSC 41%, PLN 35%, minority parties 24%; seats by party - PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority parties 7
Cote d'Ivoire:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale(225 seats; members are elected in single- and multi-districtelections by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-electionson 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2
note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full electionin 2005
Croatia:bicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of the House ofCounties or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats, 63 directly elected by popularvote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-year terms;note - House of Counties to be abolished in 2001) and House ofRepresentatives or the Zastupnicki Dom (151 seats; members electedby popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Counties - last held 13 April 1997; House of Representatives - last held 2-3 January 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: House of Counties - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HDZ 42, HSLS/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2, SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note - in some districts certain parties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran alone; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HDZ 46, SDP 44, HSLS 24, HSS 17, HSP/HKDU 5, IDS 4, HNS 2, independents 4, minority representatives 5
Cuba:unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or AsembleaNacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from slatesapproved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-yearterms)
elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003)
election results: percent of vote - PCC 94.39%; seats - PCC 601
Cyprus:unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives orVouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriotsare filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic or CumhuriyetMeclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)
elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006); Turkish Cypriot area: last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19, DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP 15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party - UBP 24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6
Czech Republic:bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of theSenate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and theChamber of Deputies or Poslanecka snemovna (200 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 and 19 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 19-20 June 1998 (next to be held by NA June 2002)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - KDU-CSL 28, ODS 22, CSSD 15, ODA 7, US 4, KSCM 3, independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 32.3%, ODS 27.7%, KSCM 11%, KDU-CSL 9.0%, US 8.6%; seats by party - CSSD 74, ODS 63, KSCM 24, KDU-CSL 20, US 18, CSNS 1
Denmark:unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats, including 2from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected bypopular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefour-year terms)
elections: last held 11 March 1998 (next to be held by March 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - progovernment parties: Social Democratic Party 65, Socialist People's Party 13, Social Liberal Party 7, Red-Green Unity List 5; opposition: Liberal Party 43, Conservative Party 17, Danish People's Party 13, Center Democratic Party 8, Christian People's Party 4, Progress Party 4; seats by party as of 1 January 2001: government coalition parties - Social Democrats 63, Social Liberals 7; pro-government parties - Socialist People's Party 13, Unity List 5; opposition - Liberals 42, Conservatives 16, Danish People's Party 13, Center Democrats 8, Christian People's Party 4, Progress Party 4 (now named Freedom 2000); does not include the 4 overseas seats
Djibouti:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - RPP 65; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election
Dominica:unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointedsenators, 21 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 31 January 2000 (next to be held by NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party-DLP 11, UWP 8, DFP 2
Dominican Republic:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacionalconsists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputiesor Camara de Diputados (149 seats; members are elected by popularvote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be heldNA May 2002)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of voteby party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
Ecuador:unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (121seats; 79 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to servefour-year terms; 42 members are popularly elected by province - twoper province - for four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - DP 32, PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3, MPD 2, CFP 1; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
Egypt:bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlisal-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed bythe president; members serve five-year terms) and the AdvisoryCouncil or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultativerole (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by thepresident; members serve NA-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19 October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2005); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP 88%, independents 8%, opposition 4%; seats by party - NDP 398, NWP 7, Tagammu 6, Nasserists 2, LSP 1, independents 38, undecided 2; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA
El Salvador:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa(84 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to servethree-year terms)
elections: last held 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - ARENA 36.1%, FMLN 35.14%, PCN 8.76%, PDC 7.08%, CD 5.32%, PAN 3.75%, USC 1.47%, PLD 1.29%; seats by party - ARENA 28, FMLN 31, PCN 14, PDC 5, CD 3, PAN 1, independent 2
Equatorial Guinea:unicameral House of People's Representatives orCamara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directlyelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDGE 80%, UP 6%, CPDS 5%; seats by party - PDGE 75, UP 4 and CPDS 1
note: opposition parties have refused to take up their seats in theHouse to protest widespread irregularities in the 1999 legislativeelections
Eritrea:unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits notestablished)
elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly which had been established in 1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections to a National Assembly are held; only 75 members will be elected to the National Assembly - the other 75 will be members of the Central Committee of the PFDJ; parliamentary elections are now scheduled for NA December 2001
Estonia:unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria (Fatherland League) 18, ReformParty 18, Moderates 17, Country People's Party (Agrarians) 7,Coalition Party 7, UPPE 6
Ethiopia:bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federationor upper chamber (108 seats; members are chosen by state assembliesto serve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representativesor lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popularvote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - OPDO 177, ANDM 134, TPLF 38, WGGPDO 27, EPRDF 19, SPDO 18, GNDM 15, KSPDO 10, ANDP 8, GPRDF 7, SOPDM 7, BGPDUF 6, BMPDO 5, KAT 4, other regional political groupings 22, independents 8; note - 43 seats unconfirmed