<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 10 September (1974)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> NA
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 15 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President of the Council of State Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980 and was elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984); election last held 19 June 1989 (next to be held 3 July 1994); results—Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without opposition by the National People's Assembly
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Council of State:</hi> this body is elected by the National People's Assembly from among its own members to legislate between sessions of the National People's Assembly
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
<item><hi format=bold>National People's Assembly:</hi> (Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections last held 15 June 1989 (next to be held 3 July 1994); results—PAIGC was the only party; seats—(150 total) PAIGC 150
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader; Democratic Social Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader; Bafata Movement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader; Democratic Front (FD), Aristides MENEZES, leader
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> PAIGC is still the major party (of 10 parties) and controls all aspects of the government
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Cape Verde, which has the black star raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell