<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980); election last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996); results—there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by the president
<item><hi format=bold>Parliament (Althing):</hi> elections last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995); results—Independence Party 38.6%, Progressive Party 18.9%, Social Democratic Party 15.5%, People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.3%, Liberals 1.2%, other 3.1%; seats—(63 total) Independence 26, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10, People's Alliance 9, Womens List 5
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party, Steingrimur HERMANNSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON; People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Women's List
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)