Government of Libya
Long Conventional Name
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Short Conventional Name
Libya
Long Local Name
Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
Short Local Name
none
Government Type
Jamahiriya
Capital City
Tripoli
Administrative Divisions
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions.
Independence Day
Monday, 24th December 1951
Constitutional History
None; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow of the Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the Establishment of the People's Authority.
Legal System
Based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive Branch
Chief of State
Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state
Head of Government
Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
Cabinet
General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress
Elections
National elections are indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held March 2006.
Legislative Branch
Unicameral General People's Congress (approximately 2,700 seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees).
Judical Branch
Supreme Court
Flag Description
Plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion).
