Arctic Region > Iceland > Government

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Administrative divisions 8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	64 09 N, 21 57 W
Constitution 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times
Corruption	9.7		[1st of 160]
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch > Chief of state President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)
Flag description blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Government type	constitutional republic
Independence 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)
Legal system civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Parliamentary seats > Female	35%		[5th of 143]
Political parties and leaders Independence Party or IP [Geir H. HAARDE]; Left-Green Movement or LGM [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Gudni AGUSTSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance or SDA [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR] (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List)
Status democracy
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Time required to start a business > days	5 days		[167th of 171]
Trademarks, residents	515		[38th of 98]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

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