Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form: none
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Digraph: EG
Type: republic
Capital: Cairo
Administrative divisions: 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); 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, Asyu't, 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 (sworn in as
president on 14 October 1981, eight days after the assassination of
President SADAT); national referendum held 4 October 1993 validated
Mubarak's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third 6-year
presidential term
head of government: Prime Minister Atef Mohammed Najib SEDKY (since 12
November 1986)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral
People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b): elections last held 29 November
1990 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - NDP 86.3%, NPUG
1.3%, independents 12.4%; seats - (454 total, 444 elected, 10
appointed by the president) NDP 383, NPUG 6, independents 55; note -
most opposition parties boycotted; NDP figures include NDP members who
ran as independents and other NDP-affiliated independents
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura): functions only in a consultative
role; elections last held 8 June 1989 (next to be held NA June 1995);
results - NDP 100%; seats - (258 total, 172 elected, 86 appointed by
the president) NDP 172
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party (NDP),
President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader, is the dominant party; legal
opposition parties are; New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN;
Socialist Labor Party, Ibrahim SHUKRI;
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