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The Government and Political System in Yemen

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The Republic of Yemen is the only pure republican country in the islamic-dominated Arabian Peninsula.  The political capital is Sanaá.  The President is the head of state, and is voted by the people, while the Prime Minister is the head of the government, appointed by the President.  The current head of state is Ali Abdullah Saleh from the General People's Congress party, the nation's dominant political party, who was reelected last 2006.  President Ali Abdullah Saleh was first elected in 1999 for a 5-year term as President, but, was then extended into a 7-year term in 2001.  The Prime Minister is Ali Mohammed Mujur since March 31, 2007.  The president also is responsible for appointing the Vice President and other deputy ministers.

The legislators in the Assembly of Representatives are elected in single-seat constituencies for a six-year term.  There are 301 seat members.  Legislation is bicameral.  The upper house of Parliament is composed of 59 members appointed by the President, more popularly known as the Consultative Council created in May 1997.

The judicial branch of Yemen is independent from the executive branch.  The Supreme Court is based in the nation's capital of Sanaá and there are also separate commercial courts.  Laws in Yemen are based in the Quran, and they have a strict policy of creating laws that do not contradict it.  Since judges of the courts rely on interpreting the Quran, most of them are also religious scholars.

Provincial and local government authorities were formerly appointed.  Governors were locally elected for the first time last May 2008.