Iraq is a parliamentary democracy with a federal system of government. The 2005 Iraqi constitution guarantees basic rights. The executive branch consists of the Presidency Council (one president, two vice presidents--an arrangement that may change following the March 2010 elections and the formation of a new government) and a Council of Ministers (one prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, and 37 cabinet ministers).

The president is the head of state, protecting the constitution and representing the sovereignty and unity of the state, while the prime minister is the direct executive authority and commander in chief.

The president and vice presidents are elected by the Council of Representatives.

The prime minister is nominated by the largest bloc in the Council of Representatives. Upon designation, the prime minister names the members of his cabinet, the Council of Ministers, which is then approved by the Council of Representatives.

The executive branch serves a 4-year term concurrent with that of the Council of Representatives. The responsibilities of the Council of Representatives include enacting federal laws, monitoring the executive branch, and electing the president of the republic.

Iraq's judicial branch is independent, and is under no authority but that of the law. The federal judicial authority is comprised of the Higher Judicial Council, Federal Supreme Court, Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission, and other federal courts.

The Higher Judicial Council supervises the affairs of the federal judiciary.

The Federal Supreme Court has limited jurisdiction related to intra-governmental disputes and constitutional issues. The appellate courts appeal up to the Court of Cassation, the highest court of appeal. The establishment of the federal courts, their types, and methods for judicial appointments are set forth by laws enacted by the Council of Representatives.

Principal Officials of the Iraqi National Unity Government

President--Jalal Talabani
Vice President--Adil Abd al-Mahdi
Vice President--Tariq al-Hashimi
Prime Minister--Nuri al-Maliki
Deputy Prime Minister--Rafi al-Issawi
Deputy Prime Minister--Rowsch Nuri Shaways
Minister of Defense--Abd al-Qadir Muhammad Jassim al-Mufriji al-Ubaydi
Minister of Finance--Bayan Baqir Jabr Sulagh al-Zubaydi
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Hoshyar Mahmud Zebari
Minister of Interior--Jawad Karim al-Bulani
Minister of Oil--Husayn al-Shahristani

POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Recent Elections

On January 31, 2009, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all provinces except for the three provinces comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk (al-Tamim) province.

On March 7, 2010 Iraq held national parliamentary elections based on an open list system that elected the members of the Council of Representatives, who will elect the President and approve the next executive branch appointments.

The Iraqi National Movement coalition led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi won the most seats (91), followed by Prime Minister al-Maliki’s State of Law coalition (89 seats), the Kurdish bloc (headed by Kurdistan Democratic Party President Masud Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan President Jalal Talabani, with a total of 57 seats), the Iraqi National Alliance led by Muqtada al-Sadr (70 seats), and other smaller political and minority parties (18 seats).