<item><hi format=bold>Dependent areas:</hi> Macau (scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China on 20 December 1999)
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982 and 1 June 1989
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; 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> President Dr. Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES (since 9 March 1986); election last held 13 February 1991 (next to be held NA February 1996); results—Dr. Mario Lopes SOARES 70%, Basilio HORTA 14%, Carlos CARVALHAS 13%, Carlos MARQUES 3%
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 6 November 1985)
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<item><hi format=bold>Council of State:</hi> acts as a consultative body to the president
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<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister
<item><hi format=bold>Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica):</hi> elections last held 6 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results—PSD 50.4%, PS 29.3%, CDU 8.8%, Center Democrats 4.4%, National Solidarity Party 1.7%, PRD 0.6%, other 4.8%; seats—(230 total) PSD 136, PS 71, CDU 17, Center Democrats 5, National Solidarity Party 1
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justica)
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Social Democratic Party (PSD), Anibal CAVACO Silva; Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), Antonio GUTERRES; Party of Democratic Renewal (PRD), Pedro CANAVARRO; Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Carlos CARVALHAS; Social Democratic Center (CDS), Manuel MONTEIRO; National Solidarity Party (PSN), Manuel SERGIO; Center Democratic Party (CDS); United Democratic Coalition (CDU; Communists)
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line