of Taiwan
and the Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced
administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties
(hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and
plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and
plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*,
Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou,
P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*,
T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the
provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization

National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of the
Revolution)

Constitution: 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently undergoing
revision

Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President LI Teng-hui (since 13 January 1988); Vice
President LI Yuan-zu (since 20 May 1990)
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN
Chan (since 23 February 1993); Vice Premier (Vice President of the
Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993); presidential
election last held 21 March 1990 (next election will probably be a
direct popular election and will be held NA March 1996); results -
President LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National Assembly; vice
presidential election last held 21 March 1990; results - LI Yuan-zu
was elected by the National Assembly
cabinet: Executive Yuan; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral
National Assembly
Legislative Yuan: elections last held 19 December 1992 (next to be
held NA December 1995); results - KMT 60%, DPP 31%, independents 9%;
seats - (304 total, 161 elected) KMT 96, DPP 50, independents 15
National Assembly: first National Assembly elected in November 1946
with a supplementary election in December 1986; second and present
National Assembly elected in December 1991; seats - (403 total) KMT
318, DPP 75, other 10; (next election to be held probably in 1996 and
will be a direct popular election)

Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan

Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LI
Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), SHIH Ming-teh,
chairman; Chinese New P