| BHUTANESE GOVERNMENT STATS: |
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Administrative divisions 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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Capital city
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Thimphu |
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Capital city > Geographic coordinates
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27 29 N, 89 36 E |
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Constitution
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ratified 23 July 2008 |
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Executive branch > 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 nominated by the monarch |
Executive branch > 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 |
Flag description 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 |
Government type in transition to constitutional monarchy; special treaty relationship with India |
Independence 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king) |
Judicial branch Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch); note - the draft constitution establishes a Supreme Court, which will serve as chief court of appeal |
Legal system based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
Legislative branch new 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) |
National holiday National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December |
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Parliamentary seats > Female
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2% |
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[132nd of 143]
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Political parties and leaders Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT [Jigme THINLEY]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Sangay NGEDUP] |
Political pressure groups and leaders United Front for Democracy (exiled) |
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Status
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absolute monarchy |
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Suffrage 18 years of age; universal |
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Time required to start a business > days
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62 days
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[34th of 171]
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Transnational Issues > Disputes > International Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian Nagaland separatists; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the largest of which lie in Bhutan's northwest and along the Chumbi salient |