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The Government and Political System in Maldives

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The government of Maldives is Presidential Republic based on the Constitution adopted on August 7, 2008. It is run through its three branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The Executive Branch consists of the President elected for a five-year term, and who is both head of state and head of government, and a Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the President and approved by Parliament. The Legislative Branch is the Unicameral People’s Council or Parliament, with 50 members, 42 of whom are elected by popular vote and eight appointed by the President. The members serve a five-year term each.

The Judicial Branch is headed by the High Court guided by a legal system based on Islamic Law and administered by secular officials composed of a Chief Justice and lower judges from each of the 19 atolls, and an Attorney-General. Appointed by the President, the lower judges function under the Ministry of Justice.

Each of the seven provinces of the country consists of administrative divisions operating in its 19 atolls. The provinces are the Mathi-Uthuru, Uthuru, Medhu-Uthuru, Medhu, Medhu-Dukunu, Mathi-Dhekunu, and Dhekunu. The administrative divisions include the capital city of Male, which is also the seat of the national government.

Providing support to the administration of the national government are the various ministries headed by Cabinet Ministers who constitute part of the Executive Branch. These ministries are the Ministries of Communication, Science and Technology; Education; Fisheries; Agriculture and Marine Resources; Health; Home Affairs and Environment; Human Resources, Employment and Labor; Justice; Planning and National Development; Tourism; Trade and Industries; Transport and Civil Aviation; Women’s Affairs and Social Security; Atolls Development; Construction and Public Infrastructure; and Youth and Sports.