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Bhutan
Main Page
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Politics
Country name:
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conventional
long form: Kingdom
of Bhutan
conventional
short form: Bhutan
local long
form: Druk
Gyalkhap
local short
form: Druk
Yul
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Government
type:
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constitutional
monarchy
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Capital:
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name: Thimphu
geographic
coordinates: 27
29 N, 89 36 E
time
difference: UTC+6
(11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
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Administrative
divisions:
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20 districts (dzongkhag,
singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang,
Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro,
Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar,
Shemgang, Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu,
Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
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Independence:
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1907 (became a
unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)
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National
holiday:
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National Day (Ugyen
WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17
December (1907)
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Constitution:
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ratified 18
July 2008
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Legal system:
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based on Indian
law and English common law; 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
Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December
2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK
abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 and his
son immediately succeeded him; the nearly two-year
delay between the former King's abdication and his
son's coronation on 6 November 2008 was to ensure
an astrologically auspicious coronation date and
to give the new king, who had limited experience,
deeper administrative expertise under the guidance
of this father
head of
government: Prime
Minister Jigme THINLEY (since 9 April 2008)
cabinet: Council
of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the
monarch, approved by the National Assembly;
members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there
is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde);
members are nominated by the monarch
(For
more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the
monarchy is hereditary, but democratic reforms in
July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to
remove the monarch with two-thirds vote; election
of a new National Assembly occurred in March 2008;
the leader of the majority party nominated as the
prime minister
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Legislative
branch:
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bicameral
Parliament consists of the non-partisan National
Council (25 seats; 20 members elected by each of
the 20 electoral districts (dzongkhags) for
four-year terms and 5 members nominated by the
King); and the National Assembly (47 seats;
members elected by direct, popular vote for
five-year terms)
elections: National
Council elections last held on 31 December 2007
and 29 January 2008 (next to be held by December
2012); National Assembly elections last held on 24
March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013)
election
results: National
Council - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote
by party - DPT 67%, PDP 33%; seats by party - DPT
45, PDP 2
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Judicial
branch:
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Supreme Court
of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges
appointed by the monarch); note - the draft
constitution establishes a Supreme Court that will
serve as chief court of appeal
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Political
parties and leaders:
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Bhutan Peace
and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or
DPT [Jigme THINLEY]; People's Democratic Party or
PDP [Tshering TOBGAY]
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Political
pressure groups and leaders:
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United Front
for Democracy (exiled); Druk National Congress
(exiled)
other: Buddhist
clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading
militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant
community
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International
organization participation:
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ADB, BIMSTEC,
CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC,
SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
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Diplomatic
representation in the US:
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none; note -
the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has
consular jurisdiction in the US; the permanent
representative to the UN is Daw PENJO; address:
763 First Avenue, New York, NY 10017; telephone
[1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551
consulate(s)
general: New
York
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Diplomatic
representation from the US:
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the US and
Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations,
although informal contact is maintained between
the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
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Flag
description:
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divided
diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the
upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is
orange; centered along the dividing line is a
large black and white dragon facing away from the
hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder
Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white
color stands for purity and the jewels in its
claws symbolize wealth; the background colors
represent spiritual and secular powers within
Bhutan: the orange is associated with Bhuddism,
while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty
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National
anthem:
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name: "Druk
tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)
lyrics/music: Gyaldun
Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI
note: adopted
1953
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