Government of Cambodia
Long Conventional Name
Kingdom of Cambodia
Short Conventional Name
Cambodia
Long Local Name
Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation)
Short Local Name
Kampuchea
Government Type
Multiparty Democracy
Capital City
Tortuguero National Park and the Northern Caribbean Coast
Administrative Divisions
20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural)
Independence Day
Monday, 9th November 1953
Constitutional History
Promulgated 21 September 1993
Legal System
Primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing influence of common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations.
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State
King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)
Head of Government
Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985)
Cabinet
Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in practice named by the Prime Minister.
Elections
None; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition is named Prime Minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the King.
Legislative Branch
Bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils; members serve five-year terms) .
Judical Branch
Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts) exercises judicial authority.
Flag Description
Three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band; only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design.
