Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form: Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Data code: EG
Government type: republic
Capital: Cairo
Administrative divisions: 26 governorates (muhafazat, singularmuhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)
Constitution: 11 September 1971
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October
1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed El-GANZOURI (since
4 January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for a
six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national,
popular referendum; national referendum last held 4 October 1993
(next to be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by
the president
election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's
nomination by the People's Assembly to a third term
Legislative branch: bicameral
system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454
seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president;
members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis
al-Shurawhich functions only in a consultative role (264
seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president;
members serve NA-year terms)
elections: People's Assemblylast held 29 November 1995 (next
to be held NA 2000); Advisory Councillast held 7 June 1995
(next to be held NA)
election results: People's Assemblypercent of vote by partyNDP
72%, independents 25%, opposition 3%; seats by partyNDP
317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic
Party 1, Liberals 1; Advisory Councilpercent of vote by
partyNDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by partyNA
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK,
leader] is the dominant party; legal opposition parties are as
follows: New Wafd Party or NWP [Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN]; Socialist
Labor Party or SLP [Ibrahim SHUKRI]; National Progressive Unionist
Grouping or NPUG [Khalid MUHI AL-DIN]; Socialist Liberal Party
[Mustafa Kamal MURAD]; Democratic Unionist Party [Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im
TURK]; Umma Party [Ahmad al-SABAHI]; Misr al-Fatah Party (Young
Egypt Party) [leader NA]; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party [Dia'
al-din DAWUD]; Democratic Peoples' Party [Anwar AFIFI]; The Greens
Party [Kamal KIRAH]; Social Justice Party [Muhammad 'ABDAL-'AL[
note: formation of political parties must be approved by government
Political pressure groups and leaders: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more aggressively in the past two years to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in
the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed MAHER al-Sayed
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from
the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER
embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City,
Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900
telephone: [20] (2) 3557371
FAX: [20] (2) 3573200
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band