Administrative divisions
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions |
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Capital city > Geographic coordinates
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32 53 N, 13 10 E |
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Constitution
none; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow of the Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the Establishment of the People's Authority |
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Corruption
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2.5 |
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[123rd of 160]
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Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address
US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850 |
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission
ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ali Suleiman AUJALI |
Executive branch > Cabinet
General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress |
Executive branch > Chief of state
Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state |
Flag description
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion) |
Government type
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state |
Independence
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship) |
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Judicial branch
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Supreme Court |
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Legal system
based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
Legislative branch
unicameral General People's Congress (approximately 2,700 seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees) |
National holiday
Revolution Day, 1 September |
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Political parties and leaders
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders
various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists, primarily based in London, but has little influence |
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Status
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dictatorship |
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Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and about 25,000 sq km in the Tommo region of Niger in a currently dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya |
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