<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Libya<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Libya
<item>• <hi format=ital>local long form:</hi> Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishirakiyah
<item>• <hi format=ital>local short form:</hi> none
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> LY
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Tripoli
<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular—baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 24 December 1951 (from Italy)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Revolutionary Leader Col. Mu'ammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Chairman of the General People's Committee (Premier) Abd al Majid al-Qa'ud (since 29 January 1994)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> General People's Committee; established by the General People's Congress
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> none
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements