The Czech Republic: Government
The World Factbook 1993: Czech Republic Government Names: conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Ceska Republika local short form: Cechy

Digraph: EZ

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Prague

Administrative divisions: 7 regions (kraje, kraj - singular); Severocesky, Zapadocesky, Jihocesky, Vychodocesky, Praha, Severomoravsky, Jihomoravsky

Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)

Constitution: ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993

Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

National holiday: NA

Political parties and leaders: Civic Democratic Party, Vaclav KLAUS, chairman; Christian Democratic Union, leader NA; Civic Democratic Alliance, Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian Democratic Party, Vaclav BENDA, chairman; Czech People's Party, Josef LUX; Czechoslovak Social Democracy, Milos ZEMAN, chairman; Left Bloc, leader NA; Republican Party, Miroslav SLADEK, chairman; Movement for Self-Governing Democracy for Moravia and Silesia, Jan STRYCER, chairman; Liberal Social Union, leader NA; Assembly for the Republic, leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: Czech Democratic Left Movement; Civic Movement

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Elections:

President: last held 26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - Vaclav HAVEL elected by the National Council

Senate: elections not yet held; seats (81 total)

Chamber of Deputies: last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (200 total) Civic Democratic Party/Christian Democratic Party 76, Left Bloc 35, Czechoslovak Social Democracy 16, Liberal Social Union 16, Christian Democratic Union/Czech People's Party 15, Assembly for the Republic/Republican Party 14, Civic Democratic Alliance 14, Movement for Self-Governing Democracy for Moravia and Silesia 14

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral National Council (Narodni rada) will consist of an upper house or Senate (which has not yet been established) and a lower house or Chamber of Deputies

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court

Leaders:

Chief of State: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK, Josef LUX, Jan KALVODA (since NA June 1992)

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFCTU, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN (as of 8 January 1993), UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 363-6315 or 6316 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian A. BASORA embassy: Trziste 15, 125 48, Prague 1 mailing address: Unit 25402; APO AE 09213-5630 telephone: [42] (2) 536-641/6 FAX: [42] (2) 532-457

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side