titution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since
30 March 1998)

head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May
2000)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
special election last held 30 March 1998 (next to be held NA March
2003); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of
vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 59.5%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 40.5%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or
Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held in the spring of
2003)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
unity bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20),
Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a
bloc) 21, ACP 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6,
Law-Governed Party 6, independents 10, unfilled 2; note - seats by
party change frequently

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Armenia Party [Myasnik ALKHASYAN];
Armenian Communist Party or ACP [Vladimir DARBINYAN]; Armenian
Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN];
Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKYN, chairman];
Democratic Liberal Party [Ramkavar AZATAKAN, chairman]; Free
Armenian's Mission [Ruben MNATSANIAN, chairman]; Law and Unity Party
[Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; Law-Governed Party [Artur
BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Mission Party [Artush PAPOIAN, chairman];
National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National State
Party [Samvel SHAGINIAN]; Pan-Armenian National Movement or PANM
[Vano SIRADEGHYAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN];
Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Shamiram Women's
Movement or SWM [Gayane SARUKHYAN]; Social Democratic (Hnchakian)
Party [Ernst SOGOMONYAN]; Stability Group [Vartan AYVAZIAN,
chairman]; Union of National Self-Determination or NSDU [Paruir
HAIRIKIAN, chairman]; Unity Bloc [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN and Andranik
MARKARYAN] (a coalition of the Republican Party and People's Party
of Armenia)

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International