<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Bahrain<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> State of Bahrain
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Bahrain
<item>• <hi format=ital>local long form:</hi> Dawlat al Bahrayn
<item>• <hi format=ital>local short form:</hi> Al Bahrayn
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> BA
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> traditional monarchy
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Manama
<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 12 districts (manatiq, singular—mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 15 August 1971 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 16 December (1961)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Islamic law and English common law
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> none
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January 1950)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Legislative branch:</hi> unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> High Civil Appeals Court
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active