<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 1 January 1804 (from France)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> constitution approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles reinstated March 1989; October 1991, government claims to be observing the Constitution
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February 1991), ousted in a coup in September 1991, but still recognized by international community as Chief of State; election last held 16 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1995); results—Rev. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 67.5%, Marc BAZIN 14.2%, Louis DEJOIE 4.9%
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> acting Prime Minister Robert MALVAL (since August 1993)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; chosen by prime minister in consultation with the president
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Legislative branch:</hi> bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
<item><hi format=bold>Senate:</hi> elections last held 18 January 1993, widely condemned as illegitimate (next to be held December 1994); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(27 total) FNCD 12, ANDP 8, PAIN 2, MRN 1, RDNP 1, PNT 1, independent 2
<item><hi format=bold>Chamber of Deputies:</hi> elections last held 16 December 1990, with runoff held 20 January 1991 (next to be held by December 1994); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(83 total) FNCD 27, ANDP 17, PDCH 7, PAIN 6, RDNP 6, MDN 5, PNT 3, MKN 2, MODELH 2, MRN 1, independents 5, other 2
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD), including National Congress of Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT, and National Cooperative Action Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge GILLES; National Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean BELIZAIRE; National Agricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis DEJOIE; Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE; Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Joseph DOUZE; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT; National Party of Labor (PNT), Thomas DESULME; Mobilization for National Development (MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Haiti (MODELH), Francois LATORTUE; Haitian Social Christian Party (PSCH), Gregoire EUGENE; Movement for the Organization of the Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Democratic Unity Confederation (KID); Roman Catholic Church; Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers Trade Unions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National Popular Assembly (APN); Revolutionary Front for Haitian Advancement and Progress (FRAPH)
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> Ambassador William Lacy SWING
<item>• <hi format=ital>embassy:</hi> Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
<item>• <hi format=ital>mailing address:</hi> P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
<item>• <hi format=ital>telephone:</hi> [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, or 22-0612
<item>• <hi format=ital>FAX:</hi> [509] 23-1641
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
