| Country Name Info : |
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan |
| Government Type : |
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India |
| Capital : |
Thimphu |
| Administrative Divisions : |
18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse |
| Independence : |
8 August 1949 (from India) |
| National Holiday : |
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) |
| Constitution : |
no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution, which is to become effective in 2005 |
| Legal System : |
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage : |
each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law, though no elections have been held |
| Executive Branch : |
chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo Yeshey ZIMBA (since 20 August 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote |
| Legislative Branch : |
unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms)
elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: NA |
| Judicial Branch : |
Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch) |
| Political Parties and Leaders : |
no legal parties |
| Political Pressure Groups and Leaders : |
Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled) |
| International Organization Participation : |
AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) |
| Diplomatic Representation In The US : |
none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic Representation From The US : |
the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India) |
