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Politics Of AlbaniaGovernment Principal Government Officials (From the Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments as of December 31, 2002 with minor corrections) President and Cabinet The head of state in Albania is the President of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the People's Assembly by secret ballot, requiring a two-thirds majority of the votes of all deputies. The next election is expected in 2007. The current President of the Republic is Alfred Moisiu, who has served since July 24, 2002. The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the People's Assembly when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister). Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (Prime Minister) is appointed by the President; ministers are nominated by the President on the basis of the Prime Minister's recommendation. The People's Assembly must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs. The Council consists of 17 ministers and nine state secretaries. The Socialist Party occupies the bulk of the cabinet positions; the Democratic Alliance, the Social Democratic Party, and the Agrarian Party each head one ministry. Head of Government - Note: Ilir Meta quit his Foreign Minister post on July 18, 2003 after disagreements with Fatos Nano.
Cabinet - Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president
Elections - President elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term
- Prime minister appointed by the president
Legislature The Kuvendi Popullor, or People's Assembly, is the lawmaking body of the Albanian Government. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, of which 100 are directly elected by an absolute majority of the voters, and 40 are chosen by their parties on the basis of proportional representation. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker) has two deputies and chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every 4 years. The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court, and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency, and other official information media. Judicial System The court system consists of a Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation, appeals courts, and district courts. The Constitutional Court is comprised of nine members appointed by the People's Assembly for maximum 9-year terms. The Constitutional Court interprets the constitution, determines the constitutionality of laws, and resolves disagreements between local and federal authorities. The remaining courts are each divided into three jurisdictions: criminal, civil, and military. The Court of Cassation is the highest court of appeal and consists of 11 members appointed by the People's Assembly and serving 7-year terms. The President of the Republic chairs the High Council of Justice (HCJ) charged with appointing and dismissing other judges. The HCJ was expanded in late 1997 to comprise 13 members from among the various branches of government. A college of three judges renders Albanian court verdicts; there is no jury trial, although the college is sometimes referred to in the Albanian press as the "jury." Main political parties The main political parties are the Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party), led by Fatos Nano, and the Democratic Party or PD, led by Berisha]. Next to these parties many other parties exist, these are listed in the list of political parties in Albania. International Organization Participation BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICC, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant). Administrative Divisions Albania is divided into 12 counties or prefectures. Counties are appointed by the Council of Ministers. Each county comprises several districts (Rreths), of which there are 36. Each district has its own local administration and governor. District governors are elected by the District Council, whose members are selected from party lists made public to voters before local elections, on the basis of proportional representation. City mayors are directly elected by voters, while city councils are chosen by proportional representation. Districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki): - Note: Administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses).
See also: List of cities in Albania. Diplomatic Representation In the US Chief of Mission: Ambassador Fatos Tarifa Chancery
2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: 1 (202) 223-4942
FAX: 1 (202) 628-7342 From the US Chief of Mission: Ambassador Marcie Reis Embassy
Rruga Elbasanit 103, Tirana
mailing address: American Embassy, Tirana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-9510
telephone: 355 (4) 247285 through 47289
FAX:355 (4) 232222
Working Hours: Monday - Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. except on holidays http://www.usemb-tirana.rpo.at/wrkhours.htm Miscellaneous Data and Information Country Name
conventional long form: Republic of Albania
conventional short form: Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqipris
local short form: Shqipria
former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania Data code: AL Government Type - Emerging democracy
Capital - Tirana
Independence - November 28, 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National Holiday - Independence Day: November 28, 1912.
Constitution - A new constitution was adopted by popular referendum on November 28, 1998 (The opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote).
Legal System - Has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage - 18 years of age, universal and compulsory
Judicial Branch - Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term
Flag Description - Red with a black two-headed eagle in the center (Flag of Albania)
Reference Much of the material in this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website. External Links - Official Sites
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