<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 6 July 1964 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 6 July 1966; republished as amended January 1974
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 21 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994), leader of the United Democratic Front
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; named by the president
<item><hi format=bold>National Assembly:</hi> elections last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held NA); seats—(177 total) UDF 84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>ruling party:</hi> United Democratic Front (UDF), Bakili MULUZI
<item>• <hi format=ital>opposition groups:</hi> Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Gwanda CHAKUAMBA Phiri, secretary general (top party position); Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Chakufwa CHIHANA; Socialist League of Malawi (Lesoma), Kapote MWAKUSULA, secretary general; Malawi Democratic Union (MDU), Harry BWANAUSI; Congress for the Second Republic (CSR), Kanyama CHIUME; Malawi Socialist Labor Party (MSLP), Stanford SAMBANEMANJA
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band; similar to the flag of Afghanistan, which is longer and has the national coat of arms superimposed on the hoist side of the black and red bands