<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Assumption Day, 15 August
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 5 October 1921
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
<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> Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989; assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993); Deputy Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; elected by the Diet; confirmed by the sovereign
<item><hi format=bold>Diet (Landtag):</hi> elections last held on 24 October 1993 (next to be held by March 1997); results—VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats—(25 total) VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal cases, Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto HASLER; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Emanuel VOGT; Free Electoral List (FL)
<item><hi format=bold>Member of:</hi> CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi> in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy
<item><hi format=bold>US diplomatic representation:</hi> the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band