Algeria has a long history of revolution and regime change, making the political climate dynamic and often in a state of change. The country is currently a constitutional republic with a democratically elected government, though the military, in practice, remain major powerbrokers. Since the early 1990s, a shift from socialism to a free market economy has been ongoing with official support.

History

A guerrilla conflict, the Algerian Civil War, resulted in more than 100,000 deaths since 1991. Although the security situation in the country has greatly improved, addressing the underlying issues which brought about the political turmoil of the 1990s remains the government's major task. The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. ...

Constitution

Under the 1976 Constitution (as modified 1979, and amended in 1988, 1989, and 1996) Algeria is a multi-party state. All parties must be approved by the Ministry of the Interior. To date, Algeria has had more than 40 legal political parties. According to the Constitution, no political association may be formed if it is "based on differences in religion, language, race gender or region."

Executive branch

The head of state is the President of the republic, who is elected to a 5-year term, renewable once. Algeria has universal suffrage. The President is the head of the Council of Ministers and of the High Security Council. He appoints the Prime Minister who also is the head of government. The Prime Minister appoints the Council of Ministers.

The President is the head of state and chief executive of Algeria. ... Abdelaziz Bouteflika (عبد العزيز بوتفليقة) (born March 2, 1937) is the President of Algeria (since 1999). ... National Liberation Front is a common name for guerrilla organisations fighting to free their country from foreign rule, or at least claiming to be such an organisation. ... The Prime Minister is the head of government of Algeria. ... Ahmed Ouyahya Ahmed Ouyahia (born July 2, 1952) is the Prime Minister of Algeria. ... The National Rally for Democracy is a political party in Algeria. ...

Legislative branch

The Algerian parliament is bicameral, consisting of a lower chamber, the People's National Assembly (APN), with 380 members and an upper chamber, the Council of Nation, with 144 members. The APN is elected every 5 years. The next round of legislative elections are scheduled to take place in 2009. Two-thirds of the Council of the Nation are elected by regional and municipal authorities; the rest are appointed by the President. The Council of the Nation serves a 6-year term with one-half of the seats up for election or reappointment every 3 years. Either the President or one of the parliamentary chambers may initiate legislation. Legislation must be brought before both chambers before it becomes law. Sessions of the APN are televised. Peoples National Assembly is Algerian Parliament. ...

Political parties and elections

Election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in Algeria. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Algeria.

In keeping with its amended Constitution, the Algerian Government espouses participatory democracy and free-market competition. The government has stated that it will continue to open the political process and encourage the creation of political institutions. More than 40 political parties, representing a wide segment of the population, are currently active in Algerian national politics. Legislative elections are planned for Spring 2002. President Bouteflika has pledged to restructure the state as part of his overall reform efforts. However, no specifics are yet available as to how such reforms would affect political structures and the political process itself. An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ... See Election (movie) for the film directed by Alexander Payne. ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Algeria ...

These elections were boycotted by the Front of Socialist Forces (Jabhat al-Quwā al-Ištirākiyyah / Front des Forces Socialistes), the Rally for Culture and Democracy (at-Tajammu` min 'ajl aṯ-Ṯaqāfah wad-Dīmuqrāṭiyyah / Rassemblement pour la Culture et la Démocratie) and the Movement for Democracy in Algeria (al-Ḥarakah min 'ajl ad-Dīmuqrāṭiyyah fī al-Jazā'ir / Mouvement pour la démocratie en Algérie). Abdelaziz Bouteflika (عبد العزيز بوتفليقة) (born March 2, 1937) is the President of Algeria (since 1999). ... The National Rally for Democracy is a political party in Algeria. ... Ali Benflis (born September 8, Algeria and former Prime Minister from 2000 to 2003. ... The National Liberation Front (French: Front de libération nationale aka FLN, Arabic: Jabhah al-Taḩrīr al-Waţanī) is a socialist political party in Algeria. ... Saad Abdallah Djaballah (born 2 May 1956 in Skikda) is an Algerian politician and leader of the Movement for National Reform, an Islamist political party (aka Islah). ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Politics stubs | Algerian political parties ... Saïd Sadi Saïd Sadi (born 26 August 1947 in Aghribs, near Azazga) is an Algerian psychiatrist and Berber nationalist. ... The Rally for Culture and Democracy (French: Rassemblement pour la Culture et la Démocratie) is a political party in Algeria. ... Louisa (or Louiza) Hanoune is head of Algerias Parti des Travailleurs (PT), or Workers Party. ... The Workers Party (French: Parti des Travailleurs, Arabic Hizb al-Ummal حزب العمال) is a trotskyist political party in Algeria, headed by Louisa Hanoune. ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Politics stubs | Algerian political parties ... The National Liberation Front (French: Front de libération nationale aka FLN, Arabic: Jabhah al-Taḩrīr al-Waţanī) is a socialist political party in Algeria. ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Politics stubs | Algerian political parties ... The National Rally for Democracy is a political party in Algeria. ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Politics stubs | Algerian political parties ... The Workers Party is a name used by various political parties throughout the world. ... The Algerian National Front (Front National Algérien) is a Algeria. ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Politics stubs | Algerian political parties ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Politics stubs | Algerian political parties ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Politics stubs | Algerian political parties ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Algerian political parties | Politics stubs ... The Rally for Culture and Democracy (French: Rassemblement pour la Culture et la Démocratie) is a political party in Algeria. ... Politics of Algeria Categories: Politics stubs | Algerian political parties ...

Administrative divisions

Algeria is divided into 48 wilaya (state or province) headed by walis (governors) who report to the Minister of Interior. Each wilaya is further divided into communes. The wilayas and communes are each governed by an elected assembly.

Media

Algeria has more than 30 daily newspapers published in French and Arabic, with a total publication run of more than 1.5 million copies. Although relatively free to write as they choose, in 2001, the government amended the penal code provisions relating to defamation and slander, a step widely viewed as an effort to rein in the press. Government monopoly of newsprint and advertising is seen as another means to influence the press, although it has permitted newspapers to create their own printing distribution networks.

Future Concerns

Population growth and associated problems--unemployment and underemployment, inability of social services to keep pace with rapid urban migration, inadequate industrial management and productivity, a decaying infrastructure--continue to plague Algerian society. Increases in the production and prices of oil and gas over the past decade have led to a budgetary surplus of close to $20 billion. The government began an economic reform program in 1993 which focuses on macroeconomic stability and structural reform. These reforms are aimed at liberalizing the economy, making Algeria competitive in the global market, and meeting the needs of the Algerian people.

International relations

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a development bank established in 1964 with the intention of promoting economic and social development in Africa. ... The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, or AFESD, is a Kuwait based, pan-Arab development finance institute. ... Flag of the League of Arab States The Arab League or League of Arab States (Arabic: جامعة الدول العربية), is an organization of Arab states - compare Arab world. ... The Arab Maghreb Union is a Pan-Arab trade agreement aiming for economic and political unity in northern Africa. ... The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA or ECA) was established in 1958 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. ... Headquartered in Rome, Italy, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations programs seek to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living; to improve the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food and agricultural products; to promote rural development; and, by these means, to eliminate hunger. ... G-15 is a name given to a group in Eritrea that opposes the policy of President Isaias Afewerki in handling the conflict with Ethiopia. ... The Group of 24 (G24), a chapter of the G-77, was established in 1971 to coordinate the positions of developing countries on international monetary and development finance issues and to ensure that their interests were adequately represented in negotiations on international monetary matters. ... The Group of 77 at the United Nations is a loose coalition of developing nations, designed to promote its members collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations. ... IAEA The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established as an autonomous organization on July 29, 1957, seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. ... The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means of financing states. ... The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, develops the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... Claiming 157 million members in 225 affiliated organisations in 148 countries and territories, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) came into being on December 7, 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Red_Crystal_flag. ... The International Development Association (IDA) was created on September 24, 1960, is a UN specialized agency. ... Islamic Development Bank (also known as IDB), is a multilateral development financing institution. ... The International Fund for Agricultural Development is an agency of the United Nations. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) is an international humanitarian organisation, often better known as the Red Cross or the Red Crescent. ... The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is an intergovernmental international organization established in 1921. ... Ilo may refer to: Ilo, a port in southern Peru Ilo, an artist on the Icelandic Bad Taste record label Ilo, the Estonian goddess of feasts This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The flag of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring foreign exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... Headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation in Lambeth, adjacent to the east end of Lambeth Bridge Headquarters building taken from the west side of the Thames Headquartered in London, U.K., the International Maritime Organization (IMO) promotes cooperation among governments and the shipping industry to improve maritime safety and to... INMARSAT, is an international telecommunications company founded in 1979, originally as an intergovernmental organisation. ... Intelsat is the worlds largest commercial satellite communications services provider. ... Interpol logo Interpol, more correctly the International Criminal Police Organization, was created in 1923 to assist international criminal police co-operation. ... Alternative meanings at IOC (disambiguation) The International Olympic Committee is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece, and organize this sports event every four years. ... The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organisation. ... Logo of the International Organization for Standardization The International Organization for Standardization (ISO or iso) is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from national standards bodies. ... The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is an international organization established to standardize and regulate international radio and telecommunications. ... MONUC is a French acronym for Mission de l Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo, in English: Mission of the United Nations (UN) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). ... The Non-Aligned Movement, or NAM, is an international organization of over 100 states which consider themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. ... OAPEC (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a multi-governmental organization which coordinates energy policies in Arab nations. ... The Organization of American States (OAS; OEA in the other three official languages) is an international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA. Its members are the 35 independent nations of the Americas. ... Flag of the Organisation of African Unity, later also used by the African Union. ... The flag of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC; Arabic: منظمة المؤتمر الإسلامي) (French: Organisation de la Conference Islamique) is an inter-governmental organization with a Permanent Delegation to the United Nations. ... The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an agency of the United Nations. ... Logo The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is made up of Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela; since 1965, its international headquarters have been in Vienna, Austria. ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ... The examples and perspective in this article do not represent a worldwide view. ... The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body, UNCTAD is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. ... UNESCO logo The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations system established in 1945. ... Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. ... United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is an agency of the United Nations with the mission of helping countries pursue sustainable industrial development, it is a specialist in industrial affairs. ... The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ... WCL is an initialism for World Confederation of Labour. ... World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental organization that helps member states communicate and cooperate on customs issues. ... WHO emblem The World Health Organization (WHO) is an agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations, and has as its core objectives the promotion of creative intellectual activity and the facilitation of the transfer of technology related to intellectual property to the developing countries in order to accelerate economic, social... The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ... The World Tourism Organization (WTO) is a UN agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. ... For other uses of the initials WTO, see WTO (disambiguation). ...