The politics of the Maldives take place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. The President heads the executive branch and appoints the cabinet; he is nominated to a five-year term by a secret ballot of the Majlis (parliament), a nomination which must be confirmed by national referendum. The President of the Maldives is the ceremonial head of state and first citizen of Maldives and the supreme commander of the Maldivian armed forces. ... Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (Dhivehi: Þ‰Þ¦Þ‡ÞªÞ‰Þ«Þ‚Þª އަބްދުލް ÞŽÞ¦Þ‡Þ°Þ”Þ«Þ‰Þ°) (born December 29, 1937), has been the president of the Republic of Maldives since November 11, 1978, having succeeded Ibrahim Nasir. ... The Majlis of the Maldives is comprised of 48 members. ... Political parties in Maldives lists political parties in Maldives. ... Elections in Maldives gives information on election and election results in Maldives. ... A presidential election was held in the Maldives on 17 October 2003. ... Parliamentary elections were held in the Maldives on 22 January 2005. ... A referendum will be held in the Maldives on 18 August 2007 to decide on whether the country should have a presidential system (as has been the case up to now) or a parliamentary system. ... Geographic distribution of the Natural Atolls of the Maldives Geographically, the Maldives are formed by a number of natural atolls plus a few islands and isolated reefs which form a pattern stretching from 7 degrees 10 North to 0 degrees 45 South. ... Maldives follows a nonaligned policy and is committed to maintaining friendly relations with all countries. ... Before the 1980s, the Maldives received limited assistance from UN specialized agencies. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... A presidential system, also called a congressional system, is a system of government where the executive branch exists and presides (hence the term) separate from the legislature, to which it is not accountable, and which cannot in normal circumstances dismiss it. ... in particular, for the archaizing senses of republic, as a translation of politeia or res publica Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A republic is a form of government maintained by a state or country whose sovereignty is based on consent of the governed... The Head of Government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... Majlis (مجلس) is an Arabic term used to describe various types of formal legislative assemblies in countries with linguistic or cultural connections to Islamic countries. ...

The unicameral Majlis of the Maldives is composed of 50 members serving five-year terms. Two male members from each atoll are elected directly by universal suffrage. Eight are appointed by the president. Parties were not allowed until 2005 (after the elections). For unicameral alphabets, see the article letter case. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... The Majlis of the Maldives is comprised of 48 members. ... Portion of a Pacific atoll showing two islets on the ribbon or barrier reef separated by a deep pass between the ocean and the lagoon. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Universal suffrage (also general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of the right to vote to all adults, without distinction as to race, sex, belief, intelligence, or economic or social status. ...

The Maldivian legal system, derived mainly from traditional Islamic law, is administered by secular officials, a chief justice, and lesser judges on each of the 19 atolls, who are appointed by the president and function under the Ministry of Justice. There also is an attorney general. Each inhabited island within an atoll has a chief who is responsible for law and order. Every atoll chief, appointed by the president, functions as a district officer in the British South Asian tradition. Sharia (Arabic: transliteration: ) is the body of Islamic law. ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ...

See also: Constitution of Maldives

The first Constitution of the Maldives was proclaimed on December 2, 1932, under the rule of Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III. He issued a decree on March 19, 1931, to compile a written Constitution. ...

History

Main article: History of Maldives

A 1968 referendum approved a constitution making Maldives a republic with executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The constitution was amended in 1970, 1972, 1975, and 1997 and is again under revision. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... in particular, for the archaizing senses of republic, as a translation of politeia or res publica Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A republic is a form of government maintained by a state or country whose sovereignty is based on consent of the governed...

Ibrahim Nasir, Prime Minister under the pre-1968 sultanate, became President and held office from 1968 to 1978. He was succeeded by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was elected President in 1978 and reelected in 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2003. Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan, NGIV (born 1926) is a Maldivian statesman who served as his countrys Prime Minister under Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi (from 1957 to 1968 ) and succeeded him to become the first President of the Second Republic from 1968 to 1978. ... A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic monarch ruling under the terms of shariah. ... Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (Dhivehi: Þ‰Þ¦Þ‡ÞªÞ‰Þ«Þ‚Þª އަބްދުލް ÞŽÞ¦Þ‡Þ°Þ”Þ«Þ‰Þ°) (born December 29, 1937), has been the president of the Republic of Maldives since November 11, 1978, having succeeded Ibrahim Nasir. ...

On November 3, 1988, Sri Lankan Tamil mercenaries tried to overthrow the Maldivian government. At President Gayoom's request, the Indian military suppressed the coup attempt within 24 hours. At present, he is the longest serving leader in Asia. is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are a multi-ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ... A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict who is not a national of a Party to the conflict and is motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a...

Since 2003 the country has experienced occasional anti-government demonstrations calling for political reforms. Political parties were allowed in June 2005.There are four parties registered in Maldives: the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party(DRP), the Islamic Democratic Party (Maldives) (IDP) and the Adhaalath Party, also known as the Justice Party (Maldives).The first party to register was the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headed by popular opposition figures such as Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) and Mohamed Latheef (Gogo). The Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) headed by President Gayyoom was next. For other uses, see Demonstration. ... The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is a political party from the Maldives. ... The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) is an authoritarian political party from the Maldives. ... The Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) is a political party from the Maldives. ... The Justice Party (Dhivehi: އަދާލަތު ޕާޓީ, tranliteration in English: Adhaalath Party ) is an opposition political party in the Maldives. ... The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is a political party from the Maldives. ... Mohamed Nasheed Mohamed Nasheed (Dhivehi: މުހައްމަދު ނަށީދު) (b. ... Mohamed Latheef is a Maldives politician. ... The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) is an authoritarian political party from the Maldives. ...

Violent protests broke out in Malé on September 20, 2003 after Evan Naseem, a brutal prisoner who victimised and degraded many other prisoners as well as prison staff, was killed in Maafushi jail. Families and frinds of many prisoners capitalised on this unfortunate event in triggering riots in an attempt to bring down the government. A subsequent disturbance at the prison resulted in three deaths when police guards at the prison opened fire on the inmates. Several government buildings were set on fire during the riots. Building set on fire On Saturday September 20, 2003 civil unrest broke out in Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. ... Malé (Dhivehi: މާލެ), (pronounced: Maa-lay) population 81,647 (2004), is the capital of the Republic of Maldives located at the southern edge of North Male Atoll Kaafu Atoll. ... is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Evan Naseem Hassan Evan Naseem (ހަސަން އީވާން ނަސީމް)o(1984 - September 19, 2003), commonly referred to as Evan Naseem, is the person whose death became a lever for the current, open, political reform activities in...

There were fresh protests on August 13, 2004, (Black Friday), which appear to have begun as a demand for the release of four hardcore criminals and MDP activists who profess to be political activists, from detention. About a 1000 demonstrators were involved. After much bloodshed and destruction to government and private property and buildings, President Gayoom declared a State of Emergency according to the powers provided in the Maldivian Constitution. is the 225th day of the year (226th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Black Friday protest at Republican Square Black Friday (Dhivehi: ކަޅު ހުކުރު), August 13, 2004, was the crackdown by the Maldivian National Security Service (NSS) on a peaceful protest in the capital city of Maldives, Malé. This unplanned and unorganized demonstration was the largest such protest in the countrys history. ...

On a national level, Maldives elects a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by parliament and confirmed in a referendum by the people. In this referendum on 17 October 2003, 90.3 % voted in favour of present-day president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (turnout 77 %). At the last parliamentary elections, 22 January 2005, only non-partisans have been elected. No legal parties exist. Out of the 42 elected parliamentaries, according to Adam Carr, 20 (32.3 % of popular vote) support the government and 18 (31.1 % of popular vote) are endorsed by the Maldivian Democratic Party. Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, trade unions, universities, and countries. ... A legislature is a type of representative deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws. ... Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (Dhivehi: Þ‰Þ¦Þ‡ÞªÞ‰Þ«Þ‚Þª އަބްދުލް ÞŽÞ¦Þ‡Þ°Þ”Þ«Þ‰Þ°) (born December 29, 1937), has been the president of the Republic of Maldives since November 11, 1978, having succeeded Ibrahim Nasir. ... The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is a political party from the Maldives. ...

The Maldivian parliament voted unanimously for the creation of a multiparty system on June 2, 2005. Prior to June 2005, the Maldivian political system was based around the election of individuals, rather than the more common system of election according to party platform. In June 2005, as part of an ongoing programme of democratic reform, new regulations were promulgated to formally recognised political parties within the framework of the electoral system. The Maldivian Democratic Party was already active. New parties include the Maldivian Peoples Party, the Islamic Democratic Party and the Adhaalath Party. January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Majlis of the Maldives is comprised of 48 members. ... The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is a political party from the Maldives. ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is a political party from the Maldives. ... The Maldivian Peoples Party (MPP) is a political party from the Maldives. ... The Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) is a political party from the Maldives. ... The Adhaalath Party (Dhivehi: އަދާލަތު ޕާޓީ, translation in English: Justice Party) is an opposition political party in the Maldives. ...

Judicial branch

The legal system is based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters. Maldives has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. Sharia (Arabic: transliteration: ) is the body of Islamic law. ... This article concerns the common-law legal system, as contrasted with the civil law legal system; for other meanings of the term, within the field of law, see common law (disambiguation). ... The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ; French: ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. ...

Administrative divisions

20 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and one first-order administrative city*;Alif Alif, Alif Dhaal, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Kaafu, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu Alif Alif Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Alif Dhaal Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Baa Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Dhaalu Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Faafu Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Gaafu Alif Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Gnaviyani Atoll or Fuvammulah is the smallest atoll in the Maldives, situated in the channel between Huvadhu and Addu. ... Haa Alif Atoll is the northern-most atoll of the Maldives. ... Haa Dhaalu Atoll is located in northern Maldives. ... Laamu Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Lhaviyani Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Kaafu Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Meemu Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Noonu Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Raa Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Addu Atoll (local administrative name Seenu Atoll) is the southernmost atoll of the Republic of Maldives. ... Shaviyani Atoll is located in northern end of the Maldives. ... Thaa Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ... Vaavu Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. ...

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Intelsat, Ltd. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

External links

• Amnesty International reports on the Maldives
• Freedom of expression in the Maldives - IFEX
• Penn Law School Students Help Draft a Criminal Code for the Maldives, from the University of Pennsylvania website