<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 12 March 1968 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas
<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 Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992); Vice President Rabindranath GHURBURRON (since 1 July 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 12 June 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Prem NABABSING (since 26 September 1990)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister
<item><hi format=bold>Legislative Assembly:</hi> elections last held on 15 September 1991 (next to be held by 15 September 1996); results—MSM/MMM 53%, MLP/PMSD 38%; seats—(70 total, 62 elected) MSM/MMM alliance 59 (MSM 29, MMM 26, OPR 2, MTD 2); MLP/PMSD 3
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>government coalition:</hi> Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), A. JUGNAUTH; Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Prem NABABSING (less 12 legislators under the leadership of Paul BERENGER, now voting with the opposition); Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR; Democratic Labor Movement (MTD), Anil BAICHOO
<item>• <hi format=ital>opposition:</hi> Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLMAN; Socialist Workers Front, Sylvio MICHEL; Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD), X. DUVAL; MMM-Berenger Faction, Paul BERENGER
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<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> various labor unions