n
former: Dilmun

Government type:
constitutional hereditary monarchy

Capital:
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 13 N, 50 35 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Independence:
15 August 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:
National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date
of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of
independence from British protection

Constitution:
new constitution 14 February 2002

Legal system:
based on Islamic law and English common law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch,
born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa
(since 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman
al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, Jawad al-ARAIDH
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister
appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of Shura Council (40 members
appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly
elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Deputies - last held November-December 2006
(next election to be held NA)
election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Sunni Islamists 18, Al Wifaq (Shia) 17, other
groupings and independents 5
note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National
Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created
bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14
February 2001; first legislative term held from December 2002 to
December 2006

Judicial branch:
High Civil Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders:
political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized
per a July 2005 law

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97 and have
recently engaged in protests and sporadic violence, demanding more
power for the elected Council of Deputies to decrease unemployment;