Chapter CVI: Part 106

Finland
civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may
request the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

France
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
administrative but not legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

French Polynesia
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
the laws of France, where
applicable, apply

Gabon
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Gambia, The
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law,
and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations

Georgia
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Germany
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Ghana
based on English common law and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Gibraltar
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Greece
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,
criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Greenland
the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

Grenada
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Guam
modeled on US; US federal laws apply

Guatemala
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Guernsey
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is
administered by the Royal Court

Guinea
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Guinea-Bissau
based on French civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Guyana
based on English common law with certain admixtures of
Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Haiti
based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
the laws of Australia, where
applicable, apply

Holy See (Vatican City)
based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to
it

Honduras
rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing
influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include
abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial
system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Hong Kong
based on English common law

Hungary
based on the German-Austrian legal system; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Iceland
civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

India
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations;
separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus

Indonesia
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures and election
codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Iran
based on Sharia law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Iraq
based on European civil and Islamic law under the framework
outlined in the Iraqi Constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Ireland
based on English common law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Isle of Man
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and Manx
statutes

Israel
mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations,
and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal
systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that
it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Italy
based on civil law system; appeals treated as new trials;
judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Jamaica
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Jan Mayen
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Japan
modeled after German civil law system with English-American
influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Jersey
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local
statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Jordan
based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of
legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Kazakhstan
based on Islamic law and Roman law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Kenya
based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law,
tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; constitutional
amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in
1991

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
based on Prussian civil law system with Japanese
influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Korea, South
combines elements of continental European civil law
systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Kosovo
evolving legal system based on terms of UN Special Envoy
Martti AHTISAARI's Plan for Kosovo's supervised independence

Kuwait
civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal
matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Kyrgyzstan
based on French and Russian laws; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Laos
based on traditional customs, French legal norms and
procedures, and socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Latvia
based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal
traditions and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Lebanon
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and
civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Lesotho
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial
review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Liberia
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common
law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten
tribal practices for indigenous sector; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Libya
based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law;
separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Liechtenstein
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Lithuania
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be
appealed to the constitutional court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Luxembourg
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Macau
based on Portuguese civil law system

Macedonia
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Madagascar
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy
law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Malawi
based on English common law and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Malaysia
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the
federation; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family
law and religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Maldives
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law
primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Mali
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Malta
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Marshall Islands
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Mauritania
a combination of Islamic law and French civil law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Mauritius
based on French civil law system with elements of English
common law in certain areas; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations

Mayotte
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Mexico
mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Micronesia, Federated States of
based on adapted Trust Territory
laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary
laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Moldova
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews
legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of
resolution; accepts many UN and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Monaco
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Mongolia
blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine
"continental" or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitution
ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Montenegro
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Montserrat
English common law and statutory law

Morocco
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law
systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional
Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Mozambique
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Namibia
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Nauru
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Navassa Island
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Nepal
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Netherlands
based on civil law system incorporating French penal
theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the
States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Netherlands Antilles
based on Dutch civil law system with some
English common law influence

New Caledonia
based on French civil law; the 1988 Matignon Accords
grant substantial autonomy to the islands

New Zealand
based on English law, with special land legislation and
land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations

Nicaragua
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Niger
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Nigeria
based on English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern
states), and traditional law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations

Niue
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing, with the
power to make its own laws

Norfolk Island
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and
acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either
Australian or Norfolk Island law

Northern Mariana Islands
based on US system, except for customs,
wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Norway
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law
traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature
when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Oman
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to
the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Pakistan
based on English common law with provisions to accommodate
Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Palau
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Panama
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Papua New Guinea
based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Paraguay
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes;
judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Peru
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations

Philippines
based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Pitcairn Islands
local island by-laws

Poland
based on a mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and
holdover Communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced
as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review
of legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are
final; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of
Justice in Strasbourg; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations

Portugal
based on civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal
reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Puerto Rico
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal
system of justice

Qatar
based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of
law controlled by the Amir, although civil codes are being
implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Romania
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Russia
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Rwanda
based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary
law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Saint Barthelemy
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Saint Helena
English common law and statutes, supplemented by local
statutes

Saint Kitts and Nevis
based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Saint Lucia
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Saint Martin
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
based on English common law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Samoa
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review
of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the
citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

San Marino
based on civil law system with Italian law influences;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Sao Tome and Principe
based on Portuguese legal system and customary
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Saudi Arabia
based on Sharia law, several secular codes have been
introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Senegal
based on French civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State
audits the government's accounting office; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations

Serbia
based on civil law system

Seychelles
based on English common law, French civil law, and
customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Sierra Leone
based on English law and customary laws indigenous to
local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Singapore
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Slovakia
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; legal code modified
to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
theory

Slovenia
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Solomon Islands
English common law, which is widely disregarded; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Somalia
no national system; a mixture of English common law, Italian
law, Islamic Sharia, and Somali customary law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

South Africa
based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the laws of the UK,
where applicable, apply; the senior magistrate from the Falkland
Islands presides over the Magistrates Court

Spain
civil law system, with regional applications; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Sri Lanka
a highly complex mixture of English common law,
Roman-Dutch, Kandyan, and Jaffna Tamil law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Sudan
based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January
1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic
law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of
the northern states regardless of their religion; however, the CPA
establishes some protections for non-Muslims in Khartoum; some
separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations; the southern legal system is still developing under
the CPA following the civil war; Islamic law will not apply to the
southern states

Suriname
based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal
theory; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Svalbard
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Swaziland
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts
and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Sweden
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Switzerland
civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees
of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations

Syria
based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law;
Islamic law is used in the family court system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Taiwan
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Tajikistan
based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Tanzania
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative
acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Thailand
based on civil law system, with influences of common law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Timor-Leste
UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains
in place but is to be replaced by civil and penal codes based on
Portuguese law; these have passed but have not been promulgated; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Togo
French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Tokelau
New Zealand and local statutes

Tonga
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Trinidad and Tobago
based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Tunisia
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint
session; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Turkey
civil law system derived from various European continental
legal systems; note - member of the European Court of Human Rights
(ECHR), although Turkey claims limited derogations on the ratified
European Convention on Human Rights; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Turkmenistan
based on civil law system and Islamic law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Turks and Caicos Islands
based on laws of England and Wales, with a
few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one
based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Ukraine
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

United Arab Emirates
based on a dual system of Sharia and civil
courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

United Kingdom
based on common law tradition with early Roman and
modern continental influences; has nonbinding judicial review of
Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

United States
federal court system based on English common law; each
state has its own unique legal system, of which all but one
(Louisiana, which is still influenced by the Napoleonic Code) is
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
the laws of the US,
where applicable, apply

Uruguay
based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Uzbekistan
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Vanuatu
unified system being created from former dual French and
British systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Venezuela
open, adversarial court system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Vietnam
based on communist legal theory and French civil law system;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Virgin Islands
based on US laws

Wake Island
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Wallis and Futuna
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

World
all members of the UN are parties to the statute that
established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court

Yemen
based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and
local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Zambia
based on English common law and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Zimbabwe
mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2101 Legislative branch

Afghanistan
the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Wolesi
Jirga or House of People (no more than 249 seats), directly elected
for five-year terms, and the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102
seats, one-third elected from provincial councils for four-year
terms, one-third elected from local district councils for three-year
terms, and one-third nominated by the president for five-year terms)
note: on rare occasions the government may convene a Loya Jirga
(Grand Council) on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and
territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the
constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up of members
of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and
district councils
elections: last held 18 September 2005 (next to be held for the
Wolesi Jirga by September 2009; next to be held for the provincial
councils to the Meshrano Jirga by September 2008)
election results: the single non-transferable vote (SNTV) system
used in the election did not make use of political party slates;
most candidates ran as independents

Albania
unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 members are
elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD
56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19

Algeria
bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's
Assembly or Al-Majlis Al-Shabi Al-Watani (389 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations
(Senate) (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the
president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; to serve six-year
terms; the constitution requires half the council to be renewed
every three years)
elections: National People's Assembly - last held 17 May 2007 (next
to be held in 2012); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 28
December 2006 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - FLN 136, RND 61, MSP 52, PT 26, RCD 19,
FNA 13, other 49, independents 33; Council of Nations - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 29, RND 12, MSP 3, RCD 1,
independents 3, presidential appointees (unknown affiliation) 24;
note - Council seating reflects the number of replaced council
members rather than the whole Council

American Samoa
bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of
the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by
popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains
Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats;
members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008
(next to be held in November 2010); Senate - last held 4 November
2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - independents 18
note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US
House of Representatives; election last held on 4 November 2008
(next to be held in November 2010); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA
reelected as delegate

Andorra
unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General
de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote,
14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of
the seven parishes; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 24 April 2005 (next to be held in
March-April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 41.2%, PS 38.1%,
CDA-S21 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA-S21 2

Angola
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220
seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5-6 September 2008 (next to be held in
September 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 81.6%, UNITA
10.4%, PRS 3.2%, ND 1.2%, FNLA 1.1%, other 2.5%; seats by party -
MPLA 191, UNITA 16, PRS 8, ND 2, FNLA 3

Anguilla
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members elected
by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, AUM 19.4%,
ANSA 19.2%, APP 9.5%, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA
2, AUM 1

Antigua and Barbuda
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17
seats; members appointed by the governor general) and the House of
Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (next
to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ALP 4, UPP 13

Argentina
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists
of the Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote;
presently one-third of the members elected every two years to serve
six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are
elected by direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two
years to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 28 October 2007 (next to be held in
2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held last held 28 October 2007
(next to be held in 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA;
seats by bloc or party - FV 12, UCR 4, CC 4, other 4; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or
party - FV 5, UCR 10, PJ 10, PRO 6, CC 16, FJ 2, other 31; note -
Senate and Chamber of Deputies seating reflect the number of
replaced senators and deputies, rather than the whole Senate and
Chamber of Deputies

Armenia
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov
(131 seats; members elected by popular vote, 90 members elected by
party list and 41 by direct vote; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 May 2007 (next to be held in the spring of
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - HHK 33.9%, Prosperous
Armenia 15.1%, ARF (Dashnak) 13.2%, Rule of Law 7.1%, Heritage Party
6%, other 24.7%; seats by party - HHK 64, Prosperous Armenia 18, ARF
(Dashnak) 16, Rule of Law 9, Heritage Party 7, independent 17

Aruba
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by
direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA
7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8,
MPA 1, RED 1

Australia
bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76
seats; 12 members from each of the six states and 2 from each of the
two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected
every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all
territory members are elected every three years) and the House of
Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular preferential
vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer
than 5 representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 24 November 2007 (next to be held no
later than 2010); House of Representatives - last held 24 November
2007 (next to be called no later than 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 37, Australian Labor
Party 32, Australian Greens 5, Family First Party 1, other 1; House
of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Australian Labor Party 83, Liberal Party 55, National Party 10,
independents 2

Austria
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of
Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; members chosen by state
parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members according to
its population; members serve a five- or six-year term) and the
National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by
direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Council - last held 28 September 2008 (next to
be held by September 2013)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe
29.3%, OeVP 26%, FPOe 17.5%, BZOe 10.7%, Greens 10.4%, other 6.1%;
seats by party - SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 34, BZOe 21, Greens 20

Azerbaijan
unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 6 November 2005 (next to be held in November
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Yeni 58, Azadliq coalition 8, CSP 2, Motherland 2, other parties
with single seats 9, independents 42, undetermined 4

Bahamas, The
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats;
members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the
prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms)
and the House of Assembly (41 seats; members elected by direct
popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve
the Parliament and call elections at any time
elections: last held 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%;
seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18

Bahrain
bicameral legislature consists of the Consultative Council
(40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of
Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly
elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of Representatives - last held November-December
2006 (next election to be held in 2010)
election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - al Wifaq (Shia) 17, al Asala (Sunni
Salafi) 5, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 7, independents 11;
note - seats by party as of February 2007 - al Wifaq 17, al Asala 8,
al Minbar 7, al Mustaqbal (Moderate Sunni pro-government) 4,
unassociated independents (all Sunni) 3, independent affiliated with
al Wifaq (Sunni oppositionist) 1

Bangladesh
unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300
seats elected by popular vote from single territorial
constituencies; members serve five-year terms; note - parliament not
in session during the extended caretaker regime
elections: last held 1 October 2001 (the scheduled January 2007
election has been postponed until 29 December 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance
partners 41%, AL 40%, other 19%; seats by party - BNP 193, AL 58, JI
17, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Manzur) 4, other 12; note -
the election of October 2001 brought to power a majority BNP
government aligned with three other smaller parties - JI, IOJ, and
Jatiya Party (Manzur)

Barbados
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21 seats;
members appointed by the governor general - 12 on the advice of the
Prime Minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at
his discretion) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 15 January 2008 (next to be
called in 2013)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP
52.5%, BLP 47.3%; seats by party - DLP 20, BLP 10

Belarus
bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie
consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64
seats; 56 members elected by regional councils and eight members
appointed by the president, to serve four-year terms) and the
Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Palata Predstaviteley - last held 28 September 2008 (next
to be held fall of 2012); international observers widely denounced
the elections as flawed and undemocratic based on massive government
falsification; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won all 110 seats
election results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA

Belgium
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in
Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by
popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year
terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van
Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in
French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on
the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 10 June 2007
(next to be held no later than June 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA
19.4%, Open VLD 12.4%, MR 12.3%, VB 11.9%, PS 10.2%, SP.A-Spirit
10%, CDH 5.9%, Ecolo 5.8%, Groen! 3.6%, Dedecker List 3.4%, FN 2.3%,
other 2.8%; seats by party - CDV/N-VA 9, Open VLD 5, MR 6, VB 5, PS
4, SP.A-Spririt 4, CDH 2, Ecolo 2, Groen! 1, Dedecker List 1, FN 1
(note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - CDV/N-VA 18.5%, MR 12.5%, VB
12%, Open VLD 11.8%, PS 10.9%, SP.A-Spirit 10.3%, CDH 6.1%, Ecolo
5.1%, Dedecker List 4%, Groen! 4%, FN 2%, other 2.8%; seats by party
- CDV/N-VA 30, MR 23, VB 17, Open VLD 18, PS 20, SP.A-Spirit 14, CDH
10, Ecolo 8, Dedecker List 5, Groen! 4, FN 1
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered
devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of
government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a
complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six
governments each with its own legislative assembly

Belize
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 seats;
members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the
prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and
1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and
Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce
and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National
Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; to
serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (31 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2008
(next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UDP 25, PUP 6

Benin
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 March 2007 (next to be held by March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FCBE 35, ADD 20, PRD 10, other and independents 18

Bermuda
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats;
members appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition)
and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve up to five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 18 December 2007 (next to be
held not later than 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%;
seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14

Bhutan
new bicameral Parliament consists of the non-partisan
National Council (25 seats; 20 members elected by each of the 20
electoral districts (dzongkhags) for four-year terms and 5 members
nominated by the King); and the National Assembly (47 seats; members
elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: National Council elections last held on 31 December 2007
and 29 January 2008 (next to be held by December 2012); National
Assembly elections last held on 24 March 2008 (next to be held by
March 2013)
election results: National Council - NA; National Assembly - percent
of vote by party - DPT 67%, PDP 33%; seats by party - DPT 45, PDP 2

Bolivia
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are
elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve
five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130
seats; 70 members are directly elected from their districts and 60
are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held
18 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - PODEMOS 13, MAS 12, UN 1, MNR 1; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MAS 73,
PODEMOS 43, UN 8, MNR 6

Bosnia and Herzegovina
bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina
consists of the national House of Representatives or Predstavnicki
Dom (42 seats, 28 seats allocated for the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and 14 seats for the Republika Srpska; members elected
by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation, to
serve four-year terms); and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15
seats, 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the
Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives and the
Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve four-year terms); note
- Bosnia's election law specifies four-year terms for the state and
first-order administrative division entity legislatures
elections: national House of Representatives - elections last held 1
October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); House of Peoples - last
constituted in January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007)
election results: national House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 9, SBH
8, SNSD 7, SDP 5, SDS 3, HDZ-BH 3, HDZ1990 2, other 5; House of
Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by
party/coalition - NA
note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that
consists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 1
October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010); percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 28, SBH 24, SDP 17,
HDZ-BH 8, HDZ100 7, other 14; and a House of Peoples (58 seats - 17
Bosniak, 17 Croat, 17 Serb, 7 other); last constituted December
2002; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections
last held 1 October 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2010);
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SNSD 41,
SDS 17, PDP 8, DNS 4, SBH 4, SPRS 3, SDA 3, other 3; as a result of
the 2002 constitutional reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska
Council of Peoples (COP) was established in the Republika Srpska
National Assembly including eight Croats, eight Bosniaks, eight
Serbs, and four members of the smaller communities

Botswana
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a
largely advisory 15-member body with 8 permanent members consisting
of the chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members
serving 5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3
members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly
(63 seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote, 4 are
appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and
Attorney-General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004
(next to be held in October 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 51.7%, BNF 26.1%,
BCP 16.6%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1

Brazil
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of
the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each
state and federal district elected according to the principle of
majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third and two-thirds elected
every four years, alternately) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara
dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Senate - last held 1 October 2006 for one-third
of the Senate (next to be held in October 2010 for two-thirds of the
Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 October 2006 (next to be
held in October 2010)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PFL 6, PSDB 5, PMDB 4, PTB 3, PT 2, PDT 1, PSB 1,
PL 1, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1, PCdoB 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 89, PT 83, PFL 65, PSDB
65, PP 42, PSB 27, PDT 24, PL 23, PTB 22, PPS 21, PCdoB 13, PV 13,
PSC 9, other 17; note - as of 1 January 2008: Federal Senate - seats
by party - PMDB 20, DEM (formerly PFL) 14, PSDB 13, PT 12, PTB 6,
PDT 5, PR 4, PRB 2, PSB 2, PCdoB 1, PP 1, PSOL 1; Chamber of
Deputies - seats by party - PMDB 90, PT 83, PSDB 64, DEM (formerly
PFL) 62, PP 41, PR 34, PSB 28, PDT 23, PTB 21, PPS 17, PV 13, PCdoB
13, PSC 7, PAN 4, PSOL 3, PMN 3, PTC 3, PHS 2, PTdoB 1, PRB 1

British Virgin Islands
unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected
seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general;
members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of
nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%,
independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1

Brunei
Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time
in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed
constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15
elected members; Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and
appointed a new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005;
council met in March 2006 and in March 2007
elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)

Bulgaria
unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 June 2005 (next to be held in June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CfB 31.1%, NMS2 19.9%,
MRF 12.7%, ATAKA 8.2%, UDF 7.7%, DSB 6.5%, BPU 5.2%, other 8.7%;
seats by party - CfB 83, NMS2 53, MRF 33, UDF 20, ATAKA 17, DSB 17,
BPU 13, independents 4; note - seats by party as of January 2008 -
CfB 82, NMS2 36, MRF 34, Bulgarian New Democracy 16, DSB 16, UDF 16,
BPU 13, ATAKA 11, independents 16

Burkina Faso
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale
(111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held 6 May 2007 (next to
be held in May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CDP 73, ADF-RDA 14, UPR 5, UNIR-MS 4, CFD-B 3, UPS 2, PDP-PS 2, RDB
2, PDS 2, PAREN 1, PAI 1, RPC 1, UDPS 1

Burma
unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed by
junta to convene (junta has announced plans to hold elections in
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government),
other 60

Burundi
bicameral Parliament or Parlement, consists of a National
Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (minimum 100 seats, 60% Hutu and 40%
Tutsi with at least 30% being women; additional seats appointed by a
National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnic
representation; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; 34 members elected by
indirect vote to serve five-year terms, with remaining seats
assigned to ethnic groups and former chiefs of state)
elections: National Assembly - last held 4 July 2005 (next to be
held in 2010); Senate - last held 29 July 2005 (next to be held in
2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%,
MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59,
FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2; Senate -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30,
FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1

Cambodia
bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the
Senate (61 seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by
the National Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and
commune councils; members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2008 (next to be
held in July 2013); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to be
held in January 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP
58%, SRP 22%, others 20%; seats by party - CPP 90, SRP 26, others 7;
Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%, FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%;
seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2

Cameroon
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180
seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms); note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term
of the legislature
elections: last held 22 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
RDCP 140, SDF 14, UDC 4, UNDP 4, MP 1, vacant 17; note - vacant
seats will be determined in a yet to be scheduled by-election after
the Supreme Court nullified results in five districts
note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the
legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established

Canada
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or
Senat (105 seats; members appointed by the governor general with the
advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of
age) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats;
members elected by direct, popular vote to serve a maximum of
five-year terms starting in 2009 elections)
elections: House of Commons - last held 14 October 2008 (next to be
held 19 October 2009)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Conservative Party 37.6%, Liberal Party 26.2%, New Democratic Party
18.2%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, Greens 6.8%, other 1%; seats by party -
Conservative Party 143, Liberal Party 76, New Democratic Party 37,
Bloc Quebecois 50, other 1

Cape Verde
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%,
UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, UCID 2

Cayman Islands
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats; 3
appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by
popular vote; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1

Central African Republic
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (105 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held
in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
KNK 42, MLPC 11, RDC 8, PSD 4, FPP 2, ADP 2, LONDO 1, independents
34, other 1

Chad
unicameral National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the 1996 constitution
called for a Senate that has never been formed
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be
held by 2009); note - legislative elections, originally scheduled
for 2006, were first delayed by National Assembly action and
subsequently by an accord, signed in August 2007, between government
and opposition parties
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, UNDR 5, URD 3, other 11

Chile
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of
the Senate or Senado (38 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve eight-year terms; one-half elected every four years) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 December 2005 (next to be held in
December 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005
(next to be held in December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CPD 20 (PDC 6, PS 8, PPD 3, PRSD 3), APC 17 (UDI 9, RN 8),
independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CPD 65 (PDC 21, PPD 22, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 54 (UDI
34, RN 20), independent 1; note - as of 8 January 2008: Senate -
seats by party - CPD 18, (PDC 5, PS 8, PPD 2, PRSD 3), APC 16 (UDI
9, RN 7), independent 4; Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - CPD
57 (PDC 16, PPD 19, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 53 (UDI 33, RN 20),
independent 10.

China
unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin
Daibiao Dahui (2,987 seats; members elected by municipal, regional,
and provincial people's congresses, and People's Liberation Army to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held December 2007-February 2008; date of next
election - NA
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - 2,987

Christmas Island
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for
election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire
Council (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for
election; last held in May 2007 (next to be held in May 2009)

Colombia
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or
Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de
Representantes (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in
March 2010); House of Representatives - last held 12 March 2006
(next to be held in March 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PSUN 20, PC 18, PL 18, CR 15, PDI 10, other parties 21;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PL 35, PSUN 33, PC 29, CR 20, PDA 8, other parties 41

Comoros
unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are
selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and 18 by
universal suffrage; to serve for five years);
elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies
from local island assemblies

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
bicameral legislature consists of
a National Assembly (500 seats; 61 members elected by majority vote
in single-member constituencies, 439 members elected by open list
proportional-representation in multi-member constituencies; to serve
five-year terms) and a Senate (108 seats; members elected by
provincial assemblies to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 30 July 2006 (next to be
held in 2011); Senate - last held 19 January 2007 (next to be held
by 2012)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PPRD 111, MLC 64, PALU 34, MSR 27, FR 26, RCD 15,
independents 63, others 160 (includes 63 political parties that won
10 or fewer seats); Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PPRD 22, MLC 14, FR 7, RCD 7, PDC 6, CDC 3, MSR 3, PALU 2,
independents 26, others 18 (political parties that won a single seat)

Congo, Republic of the
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(66 seats; members are elected by indirect vote to serve five-year
terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held in July
2008); National Assembly - last held 24 June and 5 August 2007 (next
to be held in 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - FDU 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - PCT 46, MCDDI 11, UPADS 11, MAR 5, MSD
5, independents 37, other 22