Government of Croatia
Long Conventional Name
Republic of Croatia
Short Conventional Name
Croatia
Long Local Name
Republika Hrvatska
Short Local Name
Hrvatska
Government Type
Presidential/Parliamentary Democracy
Capital City
Zagreb
Administrative Divisions
20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija, Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija, Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija, Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija, Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija, Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka Zupanija.
Independence Day
Tuesday, 25th June 1991
Constitutional History
Adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001.
Legal System
Based on civil law.
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed).
Executive Branch
Chief of State
President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February 2000)
Head of Government
Prime Minister Ivo SANADER (since 9 December 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Jadranka KOSOR (since 23 December 2003) and Damir POLANCEC (since 15 February 2005)
Cabinet
Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary Assembly.
Elections
President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 16 January 2005 (next to be held January 2010); the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and then approved by the Assembly.
Legislative Branch
Unicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat was added in the November 2003 parliamentary elections; members elected from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms).
Judical Branch
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the Assembly.
Flag Description
Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered).
