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GOVERNMENT
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Country
Name:
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conventional
long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form:Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah |
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Government
Type:
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Monarchy |
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Capital:
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Riyadh |
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Administrative
Divisions:
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13
provinces (mintaqat, singularmintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash
Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah
(Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
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Independence:
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23
September 1932 (unification) |
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National
Holiday:
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Unification
of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932) |
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Constitution:
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governed
according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates
the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in
1993 |
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Legal
System :
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based
on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial
disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18
years of age; universal |
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Executive
Branch:
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chief
of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime
Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the
monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1
January to 22 February 1996); notethe monarch is both the chief
of state and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy
Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother
to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent
from 1 January to 22 February 1996); notethe monarch is both
the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch
and includes many royal family members elections: none; the monarch
is |
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Legislative
Branch:
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a
consultative council (90 members and a chairman appointed by the
monarch for four-year terms) |
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Judicial
Branch:
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Supreme
Council of Justice |
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Political
Parties and Leaders:
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None
allowed |
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International
Organization Participation:
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BEDA,
AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO (applicant) |
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Flag
Description:
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green
with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There
is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white
horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is
the traditional color of Islam |
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