Politics of Cambodia

Government type:\nmultiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993\n

Capital:\nPhnom Penh

Administrative divisions:\n20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 3 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Phnom Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu* (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
note:\nthere may be a new municipality called Pailin

Independence:\nNovember 9, 1953 (from France)

National holiday:\nIndependence Day, November 9 (1953)

Constitution:\npromulgated September 21, 1993\n

Legal system:\nprimarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing influence of common law in recent years\n

Suffrage:\n18 years of age; universal\n

Executive branch:\n
chief of state:\nKing Norodom Sihanouk (reinstated September 24, 1993)\n
head of government:\nPrime Minister Hun Sen (since 30 November 1998)\n
cabinet:\nCouncil of Ministers appointed by the monarch\n
elections:\nnone; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; prime minister appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assembly\n

Legislative branch:\nbicameral consists of the National Assembly (122 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies"; members serve five-year terms\n
elections:\nNational Assembly - last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)\n
election results:\nNational Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party - CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7\n

Judicial branch:\nSupreme Council of the Magistracy, provided for in the constitution, was formed in December 1997; a Supreme Court and lower courts exercise judicial authority\n

Political parties and leaders:\nBuddhist Liberal Party or BLP Ieng Mouly; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party or CPP Chea Sim; Khmer Citizen Party or KCP Nguon Soeur; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC Prince Norodom Ranariddh; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP (formerly Khmer Nation Party or KNP) Sam Rangsi\n

International organization participation:\nACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), International Monetary Fund, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WB, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)\n

Diplomatic representation in the US:\n
chief of mission:\nAmbassador Roland ENG\n
chancery:\n4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011\n
telephone:\n[1] (202) 726-7742\n
FAX:\n[1] (202) 726-8381\n

Diplomatic representation from the US:\n
chief of mission:\nAmbassador Kent M. WIEDEMANN\n
embassy:\n27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh\n
mailing address:\nBox P, APO AP 96546\n
telephone:\n[855] (23) 216-436, 216-438\n
FAX:\n[855] (23) 216-811\n

Flag description:\nthree horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band

See also : Cambodia