Government:

• Country name:
     conventional long form: State of Bahrain
     conventional short form: Bahrain
     local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn
     local short form: Al Bahrayn
• Data code: BA
• Government type: traditional monarchy
• Capital: Manama
• Administrative divisions:  
     12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah,Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
       note: all municipalities administered from Manama
• Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
• National holiday: National Day, 16 December (1971)
• Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
• Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
• Suffrage: none
• Executive branch:
  Chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin   Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)
  Head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971)
  Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
  Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
• Legislative branch: 
      Unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992.
• Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court
• Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited
• Political pressure groups and leaders: Shi'a activists have fomented unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several, small clandestine leftist, and Islamic groups are active
• International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO,ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
• Flag description: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side Military
• Military branches: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force
• Military manpower - military age: 15 years of age
• Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 221,109 (2000 est.)
• Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 121,442 (2000 est.)
• Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 5,699 (2000 est.)
• Military expenditures - dollar figure: $318 million (FY99)
• Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.2% (FY99)
• Transnational Issues:
        Disputes - international: the territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Qatar are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

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