Bahamas, Thebicameral 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); the government may dissolve theparliament and call elections at any timeelections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%,independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
Bahrainbicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 membersappointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directlyelected to serve four-year terms)elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (nextelection to be held NA 2006)election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral NationalAssembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter createdbicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25December 2002
Bangladeshunicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies(the constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over andabove the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); membersserve five-year termselections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October2006)election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliancepartners 47%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 195, AL 58, JI 17, JP(Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 3, JP (Naziur) 4, other 9; note - theelection of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government alignedwith three other smaller parties - Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami OikyaJote, and Jatiya Party (Manzur)
Barbadosbicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member bodyappointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to beheld by May 2008)election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7
Belarusbicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists ofthe Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56members elected by regional councils and 8 members appointed by thepresident, all for 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representativesor Palata Predstaviteliy (110 seats; members elected by universaladult suffrage to serve 4-year terms)elections: last held 18 March and 1 April 2001 and 17 and 31 October2004 (bi-election will be held March 2005 to fill one unfilled seatin the Palata Predstaviteliy); international observers widelydenounced the October 2004 elections as flawed and undemocratic,based on massive government falsification; pro-Lukashenko candidateswon every seat, after many opposition candidates were disqualifiedfor technical reasonselection results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - NA; Palata Pretsaviteley - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - NA
Belgiumbicameral 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 18 May 2003(next to be held no later than May 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5,VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly electedsenators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthereddevolution into a federal state, there are now three levels ofgovernment (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with acomplex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves sixgovernments each with its own legislative assembly; for otheracronyms of the listed parties see the Political parties and leadersentry
Belizebicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of theprime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition,and one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches andEvangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerceand Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the NationalTrade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee;members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popularvote to serve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (nextto be held NA March 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PUP 21, UDP 8
Beninunicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 othersmall parties) 31
Bermudabicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-memberbody appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) andthe House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular voteto serve up to five-year terms)elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be heldNA July 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%;seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Bhutanunicameral 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: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be heldNA 2005)election results: NA
Boliviabicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists ofChamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members areelected by proportional representation from party lists to servefive-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130seats; 68 are directly elected from their districts and 62 areelected by proportional representation from party lists to servefive-year terms)elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held30 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007)election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - MNR 11, MAS 8, MIR 5, NFR 2, other 1; Chamberof Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNR36, MAS 27, MIR 26, NFR 25, others 16
Bosnia and Herzegovinabicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstinaconsists of the National House of Representatives or PredstavnickiDom (42 seats - elected by proportional representation, 28 seatsallocated from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seatsfrom the Republika Srpska; members elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms) and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats -5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/CroatFederation's House of Representatives and the Republika Srpska'sNational Assembly to serve four-year terms); note - Bosnia'selection law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-orderadministrative division entity legislatureselections: National House of Representatives - elections last held 5October 2002 (next to be held in NA 2006); House of Peoples - lastconstituted NA January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007)election results: National House of Representatives - percent ofvote by party/coalition - SDA 21.9%, SDS 14.0%, SBiH 10.5%, SDP10.4%, SNSD 9.8%, HDZ 9.5%, PDP 4.6%, others 19.3%; seats byparty/coalition - SDA 10, SDS 5, SBiH 6, SDP 4, SNSD 3, HDZ 5, PDP2, others 7; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition -NA; seats by party/coalition - NAnote: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature thatconsists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 5October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006); percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 32, HDZ-BiH 16, SDP 15,SBiH 15, other 20; and a House of Peoples (60 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30Croat); last constituted December 2002; the Republika Srpska has aNational Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms); elections last held 5 October 2002 (next tobe held in the fall of 2006); percent of vote by party - NA; seatsby party/coalition - SDS 26, SNSD 19, PDP 9, SDA 6, SRS 4, SPRS 3,DNZ 3, SBiH 4, SDP 3, others 6; as a result of the 2002constitutional reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska Councilof Peoples (COP) was established in the Republika Srpska NationalAssembly; each constituent nation and "others" will have eightdelegates
Botswanabicameral 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 members) and the National Assembly (44seats, 40 members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 areappointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms)elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004(next to be held NA October 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1
Brazilbicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists ofthe Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members fromeach state and federal district elected according to the principleof majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after afour-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-yearperiod) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513seats; members are elected by proportional representation to servefour-year terms)elections: Federal Senate - last held 6 October 2002 for two-thirdsof the Senate (next to be held NA October 2006 for one-third of theSenate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 October 2002 (next to beheld NA October 2006)election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party PMBD 19, PFL 19, PT 14, PSDB 11, PDT 5, PSB 4, PL 3,PTB 3, PPS 1, PSD 1, PP 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - PT 91, PFL 84, PMDB 74, PSDB 71, PP49, PL 26, PTB 26, PSB 22, PDT 21, PPS 15, PCdoB 12, PRONA 6, PV 5,other 11; note - many congressmen have changed party affiliationsince the most recent election
British Virgin Islandsunicameral Legislative Council (13 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members servefour-year terms)elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NDP 8, VIP 5
BruneiLegislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first timein 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passedconstitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15elected memberselections: last held in March 1962; date of next election NA
Bulgariaunicameral 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 - NMS2 42.74%, UDF18.18%, CfB 17.15%, MRF 7.45%; seats by party - NMS2 120, UDF 51,CfB 48, MRF 21; note - seating as of January 2005 - NMS2 98, CfB 49,UtDF 28, MRF 20, UDF 14, New Time 13, BANU 11, independents 7
Burkina Fasounicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale(111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next tobe held NA May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17
Burmaunicameral 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 allowed byjunta to conveneelection results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government),other 60
Burundibicameral, consists of a National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (expanded from 121 to approximately 140 seats under thetransitional government inaugurated 1 November 2001; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54seats; term length is undefined, the current senators will likelyserve out the three-year transition period)elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in1998, but was suspended by presidential decree in 1996; electionsare planned to follow the completion of the three-year transitionalgovernment)election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16,civilians 27, other parties 13
Cambodiabicameral consists of the National Assembly (123 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 27 July 2003 (next to beheld in July 2008); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (scheduled to beheld in 2004 but delayed)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by party - CPP 73,FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seatsby party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 2 (July 2003)
Cameroonunicameral 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 23 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for thelegislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Canadabicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate orSenat (members appointed by the governor general with the advice ofthe prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; itsnormal limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambredes Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote toserve for up to five-year terms)elections: House of Commons - last held 28 June 2004 (next to beheld by NA 2009)election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -Liberal Party 36.7%, Conservative Party 29.6%, New Democratic Party15.7%, Bloc Quebecois 12.4%, Greens 4.3%, independents 0.4%, other0.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 134, Conservative Party 99,Bloc Quebecois 54, New Democratic Party 19, independent 2
Cape Verdeunicameral 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%, MPD 39.8%,ADM 6%, other 6.9%; seats by party - PAICV 40, MPD 30, ADM 2
Cayman Islandsunicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, threeappointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected bypopular vote; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held 17 November2004)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA
Central African Republicunicameral 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 beheld NA 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD9%, 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, PSD6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7
Chadbicameral according to constitution, consists of a NationalAssembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified,members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewableevery two years)elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to beheld in NA April 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, others 11
Chilebicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists ofthe Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote, 9designated members, and 1 former president who has served a fullsix-year term and is senator for life); elected members serveeight-year terms (one-half elected every four years) and the Chamberof Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are electedby popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NADecember 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 December 2001(next to be held NA December 2005)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - CPD 20 (PDC 12, PS 5, PPD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7),independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - CPD 62 (PDC 24, PPD 21, PS 11, PRSD 6), UDI 35, RN22, independent 1
Chinaunicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo RenminDaibiao Dahui (2,985 seats; members elected by municipal, regional,and provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms)elections: last held December 2002-February 2003 (next to be heldlate 2007-February 2008)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA
Christmas Islandunicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: held every two years with half the members standing forelection; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Cocos (Keeling) Islandsunicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands ShireCouncil (7 seats)elections: held every two years with half the members standing forelection; last held NA
Colombiabicameral 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 (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held NAMarch 2006); House of Representatives - last held 10 March 2002(next to be held NA March 2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - PL 28, PSC 13, independents and smaller parties (manyaligned with conservatives) 61; House of Representatives - percentof vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 54, PSC 21, independentsand other parties 91
Comorosunicameral Assembly of the Union (30 seats; half thedeputies are selected by the individual islands' local assembliesand the other half by universal suffrage; deputies serve for fiveyears); note - elections for the former legislature, the FederalAssembly (dissolved in 1999) were held on 1 and 8 December 1996; thenext elections for the Assembly of the Union were scheduled to beheld on 18 and 25 April 2004
Congo, Democratic Republic of thea 300-member TransitionalConstituent Assembly established in August 2000elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly wereappointed by former President Laurent Desire KABILA
Congo, Republic of thebicameral Parliament consists of the Senate(66 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held NA July2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (nextto be held by NA May 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45
Cook Islandsunicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 7 September 2004 (next to be held by 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -CIP 10, DAP 9, Demo Tumu 4, independent 1; note - one seat undecidedpending by-electionnote: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters andmaintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers
Costa Ricaunicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa(57 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 3 February 2002 (next to be held 3 February2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PUSC 19, PLN 17, PAC 14, PML 6, PRC 1; note - seats by party as ofJanuary 2005 - PUSC 19, PLN 16, PAC 8, PML 5, PRC 1, Patriotic Union3, Homeland First 1, Authentic Member from Heredia 1, DemocraticNational Alliance 1, independent 2
Cote d'Ivoireunicameral 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-elections on14 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 2note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full electionin 2005
Croatiaunicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat wasadded in the November 2003 parliamentary elections; members electedfrom party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: Assembly - last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in2007)election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; numberof seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 34, HSS 10, HNS 10, HSP 8, IDS 4,Libra 3, HSU 3, SDSS 3, other 11note: minority government coalition - HDZ, DC, HSLS, HSU, SDSS
Cubaunicameral National Assembly of People's Power or AsembleaNacional del Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slatesapproved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in NA 2008)election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609
Cyprusunicameral - Republic of Cyprus: 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); north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi(50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: Republic of Cyprus: last held 27 May 2001 (next to beheld May 2006); north Cyprus: last held 14 December 2003 (next to beheld early 2005 because the government resigned)election results: Republic of Cyprus: House of Representatives -percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19,DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic -percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace andDemocratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7
Czech Republicbicameral 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 in two rounds 5-6 November and 12-13November 2004 (next to be held NA November 2006); Chamber ofDeputies - last held 14-15 June 2002 (next to be held by NA June2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - ODS 26, KDU-CSL 15, Open Democracy 15, CSSD 9, Caucus"Independent" 5, US-DEU 1, European Democrats 1, Greens 1, KSCM 1,independents 7; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -CSSD 30.2%, ODS 24.5%, KSCM 18.5%, KDU-CSL & US-DEU coalition 14.3%,other minor 12.5%; seats by party - CSSD 70, ODS 58, KSCM 41,KDU-CSL 21, US-DEU 10
Denmarkunicameral 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 20 November 2001 (next to be held 8 February2005)election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 31%,Social Democrats 29%, Danish People's Party 12%, Conservative Party9%, Socialist People's Party 6%, Social Liberal Party 5%, ChristianPeople's Party (now Christian Democrats) 2%, Unity List 2%; seats byparty - Liberal Party 56, Social Democrats 52, Danish People's Party22, Conservative Party 16, Socialist People's Party 12, SocialLiberal Party 9, Christian People's Party (now Christian Democrats)4, Unity List 4; note - does not include the 2 seats from Greenlandand the 2 seats from the Faroe Islands
Djiboutiunicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)elections: last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held NA January2008)election results: percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats -RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election
Dominicaunicameral 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 17 July2005); note - tradition dictates that the election will be heldwithin five years of the last election, but technically it is fiveyears from the first seating of parliament (17 April 2000) plus a 90day grace periodelection results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -DLP 10, UWP 9, DFP 2
Dominican Republicbicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacionalconsists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputiesor Camara de Diputados (150 seats; members are elected by popularvote to serve four-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held NA May2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be heldNA May 2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - PRD 29, PLD 2, PRSC 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of voteby party - NA; seats by party - PRD 73, PLD 41, PRSC 36
East Timorunicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary,minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members electedby popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first termof office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on anexceptional basiselections: (next to be held August 2006); direct elections fornational parliament were never held; elected delegates to thenational convention named themselves legislators instead of havingelections; hence the exceptional numbers for this term of thenational parliament.election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats byparty - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1
Ecuadorunicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100seats; members are popularly elected by province to serve four-yearterms)elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held NA October2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PSC 25, PRE 15, ID 16, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD5, DP 4, PS-FA 3, independents 7; note - defections by members ofNational Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes inthe numbers of seats held by the various parties
Egyptbicameral 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 six-year terms)elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NAOctober-November 2005); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2004(next to be held May-June 2007)election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - NA; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - NA
El Salvadorunicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa(84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to servethree-year terms)elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -FMLN 31, ARENA 28, PCN 15, PDC 5, CD 5
Equatorial Guineaunicameral 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 24 April 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - PDGE 80%, UP 6%, CPDS5%; seats by party - PDGE 75, UP 4 and CPDS 1note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests allexecutive authority in the president
Eritreaunicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits notestablished)elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the newconstitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the oldCentral Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-memberConstituent Assembly, that had been established in 1997 to discussand ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreansliving abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly toserve as the country's legislative body until countrywide electionsto a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members ofthe Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitutionstipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of theNational Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligiblevoters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 werepostponed indefinitely
Estoniaunicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - Center Party 25.4%, ResPublica 24.6%, Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian People's Union 13%, ProPatria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3% People's Party Moodukad 7%;seats by party - Center Party 28, Res Publica 28, Reform Party 19,Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria Union 7, People's PartyMoodukad 6
Ethiopiabicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation orupper chamber (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies toserve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives orlower 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 by party - 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 regionalpolitical groupings 22, independents 8; note - 43 seats unconfirmednote: irregularities and violence at some polling stationsnecessitated the rescheduling of voting in certain constituencies;voting postponed in Somali regional state because of severe drought
European UnionCouncil of the European Union (25 member-stateministers having 321 votes; the number of votes is roughlyproportional to member-states' population); note - the Council isthe main decision-making body of the EU; European Parliament (732seats; seats allocated among member states by proportion topopulation); members elected by direct universal suffrage for afive-year termelections: last held 10-13 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - EPP-ED268, PES 202, ALDE 88, Greens/EFA 42, EUL/NGL 41, IND/DEM 36, UEN27, independents 28
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)unicameral Legislative Council (10seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by popular vote, members servefour-year terms); presided over by the governorelections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November2005)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8; note- 71% voter turnout
Faroe Islandsunicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats;members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from theseven constituencies to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later thanJanuary 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%,Social Democrats 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party -Union Party 7, Social Democrats 7, Republican Party 8, People'sParty 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on20 November 2001 (next to be held 8 February 2005); results -percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1,Union Party 1
Fijibicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24appointed by the President on the advice of the Great Council ofChiefs, nine appointed by the president, and one appointed by thecouncil of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, threereserved for other ethnic groups, one reserved for the council ofRotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 openseats; members serve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1September, 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later thanSeptember 2006)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - FLP 26.5%, SDL 27.5%, NFP 1.2%, MV 4.2%, NLUP 1.3%, UGP .3%,independents 1.4%; seats by party - FLP 27, SDL 32, MV 6, NFP 1,NLUP 2, UGP 1, independents 2
Finlandunicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members areelected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-yearterms)elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%,Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party -Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4
Francebicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate orSenat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseasdepartments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad;members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to servenine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years); note -between now and 2010, 25 new seats will be added to the Senate for atotal of 346 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseasdepartments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierreand Miquelon, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for Frenchnationals abroad; members will be indirectly elected by an electoralcollege to serve six-year terms, with one-half the seats beingrenewed every three years; and the National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under asingle-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be heldSeptember 2007); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (nextto be held not later than June 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - UMP 156, PS 97, UDF 33, PCF 23, RDSE 15, other 7; NationalAssembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 355,PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22
French Guianaunicameral General Council or Conseil General (19seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to beheld NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next tobe held NA 2004)election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - PSG 5, various left-wing parties 5, independents 7,other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%,various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, WalwariCommittee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6,independents 3, Walwari Committee 2note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998(next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the FrenchNational Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007);results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1,Walwari Committee 1
French Polynesiaunicameral Territorial Assembly or AssembleeTerritoriale (57 seats - changed from 49 seats for May 2004election; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held NA May 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Union for Democracy27, New Star 1, This Country is Yours 1note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on NA September 1998(next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to theFrench National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
Gabonbicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats;members elected by members of municipal councils and departmentalassemblies) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: National Assembly - last held 9 and 23 December 2001(next to be held NA December 2006); Senate - last held 26 Januaryand 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - PDG 86, RNB-RPG 8, PGP 3, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PUP 1,PSD 1, independents 13, others 3; Senate - percent of vote by party- NA; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1,independents 9
Gambia, Theunicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected bypopular vote, five appointed by the president; members servefive-year terms)elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held NA January2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,
Georgiaunicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to asParliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats - 150 elected by partylists); members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held spring 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NationalMovement-Democrats 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all otherparties received less than 7% each; seats by party - NationalMovement-Democrats 135, Rightist Opposition 15
Germanybicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the FederalAssembly or Bundestag (603 seats; elected by popular vote under asystem combining direct and proportional representation; a partymust win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gainrepresentation; members serve four-year terms) and the FederalCouncil or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directlyrepresented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on populationand are required to vote as a block)elections: Federal Assembly - last held 22 September 2002 (next tobe held NA September 2006); note - there are no elections for theBundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of thestate-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has thepotential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an electionelection results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - SPD38.5%, CDU/CSU 38.5%, Alliance '90/Greens 8.6%, FDP 7.4%, PDS 4%;seats by party - SPD 251, CDU/CSU 248, Alliance '90/Greens 55, FDP47, PDS 2; Federal Council - current composition - NA
Ghanaunicameral Parliament (230 seats; note - increased from 200seats in last election; members are elected by direct, popular voteto serve four-year terms)elections: last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NPP 128, NDC 92, other 10
Gibraltarunicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected bypopular vote, one appointed for the Speaker, and two ex officiomembers; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 27 November 2003 (next to be held not laterthan February 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 58%, GSLP 41%;seats by party - GSD 8, GSLP 7
Greeceunicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: elections last held 7 March 2004 (next to be held byMarch 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - ND 45.4%, PASOK 40.6%,KKE 5.9%, Synaspismos 3.3%; seats by party - ND 165, PASOK 117, KKE12, Synaspismos 6
Greenlandunicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; membersare elected by popular vote on the basis of proportionalrepresentation to serve four-year terms)elections: last held on 3 December 2002 (next to be held by NADecember 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 28.7%, InuitAtaqatigiit 25.5%, Atassut Party 20.4%, Demokratiit 15.6%,Katusseqatigiit 5.3%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit8, Atassut 7, Demokratiit 5, Katusseqatigiit 1note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament orFolketing on 20 November 2001 (next to be held 8 February 2005);percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Siumut 1, InuitAtaqatigiit 1
Grenadabicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-memberbody, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of theopposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held on 27 November 2003 (next to be held by NANovember 2008)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - NNP 8, NDC 7
Guadeloupeunicameral General Council or Conseil General (42 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and theunicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held 22 March 1998 (next to beheld by NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 28 March 2004 (nextto be held NA 2010)election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - left-wing candidates 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6,right-wing candidates 5, PCG 3, UDF 1; Regional Council (secondround) - percent of vote by party - PS 58.4%, UMP 41.6%; seats byparty - PS 29, UMP 12note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate;elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September2004); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, FGPS1; Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French NationalAssembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be heldNA 2007); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 2, PS1, different right parties 1
Guamunicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve two-year terms)elections: last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November2004)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Democratic Party 9, Republican Party 6note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House ofRepresentatives; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held2 November 2004); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party)was elected as delegate; percent of vote by party - Democratic Party64.6%, Republican Party 35.4%; seats by party - Democratic Party 1
Guatemalaunicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de laRepublica (158 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 9 November 2003 (next to be held NA November2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -GANA 49, FRG 41, UNE 33, PAN 17, other 18note: for the 9 November 2003 election, the number of congressionalseats increased from 113 to 158
Guernseyunicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members areelected by popular vote for 4 years); note - Alderney and Sark havetheir own parliamentselections: last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2008)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Guineaunicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee NationalePopulaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%, UPR 26.6%,other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR 20, other 9
Guinea-Bissauunicameral National People's Assembly or AssembleiaNacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve a maximum of four years); note - President YALA dissolved theNational People's Assembly in November 2002, elections for a newlegislature were scheduled to fall in February 2003 but were thenpostponed to April, then July, then September, and were lastscheduled to occur in March 2004elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 31.5%, PRS 24.8%,PUSD 16.1%, UE 4.1%, APU 1.3%, 13 other parties 22.2% ; seats byparty - PAIGC 45, PRS 35, PUSD 17, UE 2, APU 1
Guyanaunicameral National Assembly (68 seats, 65 elected by popularvote, 1 elected Speaker of the National Assembly, and 2 nonvotingmembers appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PPP/C 34, PNC 27, GAP and WPA 2, ROAR 1, TUF 1
Haitibicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists ofthe Senate (27 seats; members elected by popular vote to servesix-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamberof Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms); note - the National Assembly stopped functioningin January 2004 when the terms of all Deputies and two-thirds ofsitting Senators expired; no replacements have been elected; thePrime Minister is currently ruling by decreeelections: Senate - last held for two-thirds of seats 21 May 2000with runoffs on 9 July boycotted by the opposition; seven seatsstill disputed; election for remaining one-third held on 26 November2000 (next to be held in 2004); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21May 2000 with runoffs on 30 July boycotted by the opposition; onevacant seat rerun 26 November 2000 (next to be held in November 2005)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - FL 26, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of voteby party - NA%; seats by party - FL 73, MOCHRENA 3, PLB 2, OPL 1,vacant 1, other minor parties and independents 3
Holy See (Vatican City)unicameral Pontifical Commission
Hondurasunicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128seats; members are elected proportionally to the number of votestheir party's presidential candidate receives to serve four-yearterms)elections: last held 25 November 2001 (next to be held 27 November2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PN 61, PL 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU-SD 3
Hong Kongunicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; in 200430 seats indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 electedby popular vote; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September2008)election results: percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10,independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11,Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1
Hungaryunicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats;members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportionaland direct representation to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 7 and 21 April 2002 (next to be held NA April2006)election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the voterequired for parliamentary representation in the first round) -Fidesz/MDF 48.70%, MSzP 46.11%, SzDSz 4.92%, other 0.27%; seats byparty - Fidesz 164, MSzP 178, MDF 24, SzDSz 20
Icelandunicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%,Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party -Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, ProgressiveParty 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
Indiabicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council ofStates or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250members, up to 12 of which are appointed by the president, theremainder are chosen by the elected members of the state andterritorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and thePeople's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 elected by popularvote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)elections: People's Assembly - last held 20 April through 10 May2004 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - INC 145, BJP 138, CPI(M) 43, SP 36, RJD 21, BSP 19,DMK 16, SS 12, BJD 11, CPI 10, NCP 9, JDU 8, SAD 8, PMK 6, TDP 5,TRS 5, JMM 5, LJSP 4, MDMK 4, independents 5, other 30
Indonesiaunicameral House of Representatives or Dewan PerwakilanRakyat (DPR) (550 seats; members serve five-year terms); House ofRegional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD),constitutionally mandated role includes providing legislative inputto DPR on issues affecting regions; People's Consultative Assembly(Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) has role in inaugurating andimpeaching President and in amending constitution; consists ofpopularly-elected members in DPR and DPD; MPR does not formulatenational policyelections: last held 5 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - Golkar 21.6%, PDI-P18.5%, PKB 10.6%, PPP 8.2%, PD 7.5%, PKS 7.3%, PAN 6.4%, others19.9%; seats by party - Golkar 128, PDI-P 109, PPP 58, PD 55, PAN53, PKB 52, PKS 45, others 50note: because of election rules, the number of seats won does notalways follow the number of votes received by parties
Iranunicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly orMajles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats, note - changed from 270 seatswith the 18 February 2000 election; members elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms)elections: last held 20 February 2004 with a runoff held 7 May 2004(next to be held February 2008)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party -conservatives/Islamists 190, reformers 50, independents 43,religious minorities 5, and 2 seats unaccounted for
IraqIraqi Interim National Council formed in July 2004
Irelandbicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate orSeanad Eireann (60 seats - 49 elected by the universities and fromcandidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominatedby the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the Houseof Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are electedby popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefive-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002 (next to be heldby July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 17 May 2002(next to be held by May 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 15, Labor Party 5, ProgressiveDemocrats 4, independents and others 6; House of Representatives -percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, LaborParty 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats 4.0%, Green Party3.8%, others 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31,Labor Party 21, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5,others 14
Israelunicameral Knesset or parliament (120 seats; members electedby popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 28 January 2003 (next scheduled to be held fallof 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - Likud Party 29.4%,Labor 14.5%, Shinui 12.3%, Shas 8.2%, National Union 5.5%, Meretz5.2%, United Torah Judaism 4.3%, National Religious Party 4.2%,Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3.0%, One Nation 2.8%,National Democratic Assembly 2.3%, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya (YBA) 2.2%,United Arab List 2.1%, Green Leaf Party 1.2%, Herut 1.2%, other1.6%; seats by party - Likud 38, Labor 19, Shinui 15, Shas 11,National Union 7, Meretz 6, National Religious Party 6, United TorahJudaism 5, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3, One Nation 3,National Democratic Assembly 3, YBA 2, United Arab List 2
Italybicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate orSenato della Repubblica (315 seats elected by popular vote of which232 are directly elected and 83 are elected by regional proportionalrepresentation; in addition, there are a small number ofsenators-for-life including former presidents of the republic;members serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Cameradei Deputati (630 seats; 475 are directly elected, 155 by regionalproportional representation; members serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 13 May 2001 (next to be held 2006);Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 May 2001 (next to be held May2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - House of Liberties 172 (Forza Italia 77, National Alliance47, UDC 31, Lega Padana 17), Olive Tree 108 (Democrats of the Left63, Daisy Alliance 35, Greens 10), Per le Autonomie 10, other 25;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party- House of Liberties 337 (Forza Italia 176, National Alliance 97,UDC 36, Northern League 28), Olive Tree 214 (Democrats of the Left135, Daisy Alliance 79), Rifondazione Communista 11, other 68
Jamaicabicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-memberbody appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of theprime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party isallocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated eight seats) andthe House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 16 October 2002 (next to be held in October2007)election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 52%, JLP 47.3%;seats by party - PNP 34, JLP 26
Japanbicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillorsor Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for six-year terms; halfreelected every three years; 144 members in multi-seatconstituencies and 98 by proportional representation); House ofRepresentatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected forfour-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members byproportional representation in 11 regional blocs)elections: House of Councillors - last held 11 July 2004 (next to beheld in July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 9 November2003 (next election by November 2007)election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - LDP 115, DPJ 82, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 5,others 7; distribution of seats as of October 2004 - LDP 114, DPJ84, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 5, others 6House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LDP 49.38%,DPJ 36.88%, Komeito 7.09%, JCP 1.88%, SDP 1.25%, NCP .84%; seats byparty - LDP 237, DPJ 177, Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, NCP 4, others13; distribution of seats as of December 2004: LDP 249, DPJ 177,Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, others 3, vacant 2note: Liberal Party merged with Democratic Party of Japan inSeptember 2003; Conservative New Party merged with LiberalDemocratic Party following election in November 2003 (2004)
Jerseyunicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12senators (elected for 6-year terms), 12 constables or heads ofparishes (elected for 3-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for 3-yearterms); the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and 3 non-voting members- the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the SolicitorGeneral all appointed by the monarch)elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 52
Jordanbicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists ofthe Senate, also called the House of Notables (Majlis al-Ayan) (55seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categoriesof public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives, also called the House of Deputies (Majlisal-Nuwaab) (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basisof proportional representation to serve four-year terms; note - sixseats are reserved for women and are allocated by a specialelectoral panel if no women are elected)elections: House of Representatives - last held 17 June 2003 (nextto be held NA 2007)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - independents and others 89.6%, Islamic Action Front 10.4%;seats by party - independents and others 92, Islamic Action Front18; note - one of the six quota seats was given to a female IAFcandidatenote: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolvedby the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989, the firstparliamentary elections in 22 years were held; political partieswere not legalized until 1992; King ABDALLAH delayed the 2001elections until 2003
Kazakhstanbicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (39 seats; 7senators are appointed by the president; other members are popularlyelected, two from each of the 14 oblasts, the capital of Astana, andthe city of Almaty, to serve six-year terms; note - formerlycomposed of 47 seats) and the Majilis (77 seats; 10 out of the 77Majilis members are elected from the winning party's lists; membersare popularly elected to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - (indirect) last held 17 September 1999 (next tobe held December 2005); Majilis - last held 19 September and 3October 2004 (next to be held September 2009)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - NA; candidates nominated by local councils; Majilis -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Otan 42, AIST 11,ASAR (All Together) 4, Ak Zhol (Bright Path) 1, Democratic Party 1,independent 18; note - most independent candidates are affiliatedwith parastatal enterprises and other pro-government institutions
Kenyaunicameral National Assembly or Bunge (224 seats; 210 memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called"nominated" members who are appointed by the president but selectedby the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2ex-officio members)elections: last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held by early 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NARC 125, KANU 64, FORD-P 14, other 7; ex-officio 2; seats appointedby the president - NARC 7, KANU 4, FORD-P 1
Kiribatiunicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (42seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member - theattorney general, one appointed to represent Banaba, and one other;members serve four-year terms)elections: first round elections last held 29 November 2002; secondround elections held 6 December 2002 (next to be held by November2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -BTK 17, MTM 16, independents 7, other 2 (includes attorney general)note: new legislative elections were held in two rounds - the firstround on 9 May 2003 and the second round on 14 May 2003
Korea, Northunicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego InminHoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NA; the KWP approves a list of candidates who are elected withoutopposition; some seats are held by minor parties
Korea, Southunicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats —members elected for four-year terms; 243 in single-seatconstituencies, 56 by proportional representationelections: last held 15 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2008;by-elections scheduled for April 2005))election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP3%, MDP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 152, GNP 121, DLP 10,MDP 9, others 7 (2004)
Kuwaitunicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - Islamists 21,government supporters 14, liberals 3, and independents 12; note -all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the NationalAssembly
Kyrgyzstanbicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kenesh consists ofthe Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and theLegislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular voteto serve five-year terms); note - in accordance with a 2003referendum, the Parliament is slated to become unicameral with 75deputies after the 27 February 2005 electionselections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 20February and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA February 2005);Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000;elections for the new unicameral body or Jorgorku Kenesh are to beheld 27 February 2005)election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent ofvote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; and Legislative Assembly -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - totalseats by party in the Supreme Council were as follows: Union ofDemocratic Forces 12, Communists 6, My Country Party of Action 4,independents 73, other 10note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995elections; the 2000 election results include both the Assembly ofPeople's Representatives and the Legislative Assembly