<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 26 July 1965 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 4 June 1968
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; 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 Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results—President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM was reelected with 92.76% of the vote
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Ministry of Atolls; appointed by the president
<item><hi format=bold>Citizens' Council (Majlis):</hi> elections last held on 7 December 1989 (next to be held 7 December 1994); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(48 total, 40 elected)
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> High Court
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> no organized political parties; country governed by the Didi clan for the past eight centuries
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi> Maldives has no embassy in the US, but does have a UN mission in New York; Permanent Representative to the UN Ahmed ZAKI
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there
<item>• <hi format=ital>consular agency:</hi> Midhath Hilmy, Male
<item>• <hi format=ital>telephone:</hi> 2581
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<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag