Politics of Azerbaijan takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, , with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Judiciary is nominally independent of the executive and the legislature. A presidential system, or a congressional system, is a system of government of a republic where the executive branch is elected separately from the legislative. ... It has been suggested that The republican form of government be merged into this article or section. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State in many Commonwealth countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, the Bahamas and many more, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, tone, style, and voice). ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The judiciary, also referred to as the judicature, consists of the system of courts of law for the administration of justice and to its principals, the justices, judges and magistrates among other types of adjudicators. ...

Political history

Azerbaijan declared its independence from the former Soviet Union on August 30, 1991, with Ayaz Mutalibov, former First Secretary of the Azerbaijani Communist Party, becoming the country's first President. Following a massacre of Azerbaijanis at Khojali in Nagorno-Karabakh in March 1992, Mutalibov resigned and the country experienced a period of political instability. The old guard returned Mutalibov to power in May 1992, but less than a week later his efforts to suspend scheduled presidential elections and ban all political activity prompted the opposition Popular Front Party (PFP) to organize a resistance movement and take power. Among its reforms, the PFP dissolved the predominantly Communist Supreme Soviet and transferred its functions to the 50-member upper house of the legislature, the National Council. August 30 is the 242nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (243rd in leap years), with 123 days remaining. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ayaz Niyazi Olgy Mutalibov (or Ayaz Niyaziyevich Mutalibov) (born 1938) was an Azerbaijan Communist political figure. ... In modern usage, a communist party is a political party which promotes communism, a sociopolitical philosophy based on the particular interpretation of Marxism put forth by Vladimir Lenin. ... Khojali (Azerbaijani: Xocalı), also called Khojaly, is a town and a rayon in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. ... Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The Supreme Soviet (Russian: , Verhovniy Sovet, literally the Supreme Council) comprised the highest legislative body in the Soviet Union in the interim of the sessions of the Congress of Soviets, and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments. ...

Elections in June 1992 resulted in the selection of PFP leader Abulfez Elchibey as the country's second president. The PFP-dominated government, however, proved incapable of either credibly prosecuting the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict or managing the economy, and many PFP officials came to be perceived as corrupt and incompetent. Growing discontent culminated in June 1993 in an armed insurrection in Ganja, Azerbaijan's second-largest city. As the rebels advanced virtually unopposed on Baky, President Elchibey fled to his native province of Nakhchivan. He died in 2000. The National Council conferred presidential powers upon its new Speaker, Heydar Aliyev, former First Secretary of the Azerbaijani Communist Party (1969-81) and later a member of the U.S.S.R. Politburo, the KGB, and USSR Deputy Prime Minister (until 1987). Elchibey was formally deposed by a national referendum in August 1993, and Aliyev was elected to a 5-year term as President in October with only token opposition. Aliyev won re-election to another 5-year term in 1998, in an election marred by serious irregularities. Abulfez Elchibey, leader of the Popular Front, won the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, prompting the return to a senior post for Heydar Aliev, former leader of the Soviet Union Communist Party. ... Baku (or Bakı (Baky) pronounced ba-KEY, Баку or Bakı in Azeri, باکو (Baku) in Persian) is the capital of Azerbaijan Republic. ... Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev (HeydÉ™r Əlirza oÄŸlu Əliyev in Azerbaijani) (sometimes transliterated as Heydar Aliev or Geidar Aliev from the Russian Гейдар Алиев) (May 10, 1923? - December 12, 2003) served as president of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev... The KGB emblem and motto: The sword and the shield KGB (transliteration of КГБ) is the Russian-language acronym for State Security Committee, (Russian: â–¶ (help· info); Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti). ...

Azerbaijan's first Parliament was elected in 1995. The present 125-member unicameral Parliament was elected in November 2000 in an election that showed improvements in democratic processes, but still did not meet international standards as free and fair. A majority of parliamentarians are from the President's "New Azerbaijan Party." Opposition parties are represented in Parliament, but are suppressed and are not totally free to campaign before elections.

Azerbaijan has a strong presidential system in which the legislative and judicial branches have only limited independence.

The president is an absolute ruler. Demonstrations are often suppressed with violence, there are reports of torture and a strong censorship enables a personality cult. The Speaker of Parliament stood next in line to the President, but the constitution was changed at the end of 2002: now the premier is next in line. This was done to make it possible for the son of the 80-year old Heydar, Ilham Aliyev to succeed his father, who was admitted to a Turkish hospital on July 8, 2003 because of heart problems. In August, 2003, Ilham was appointed as premier with the fake signature of his already dead father, though Artur Rasizade, who had been prime minister since 1996, continued to fulfill the duties of that office so that Ilham could concentrate on his presidential election bid. In the October 2003 presidential elections, Ilham was announced winner while international observers reported several irregularities. He was sworn in as president at the end of the month, and Rasizade became premier again. Adolf Hitler built a strong cult of personality, based on the Führerprinzip. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev (Azerbaijani in full: Ä°lham HeydÉ™r oÄŸlu Əliyev) (born December 24, 1961) has been president of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party since 2003. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Artur Tahir oÄŸlu RasizadÉ™ (born 1935) is the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan. ... A presidential election was held in Azerbaijan on October 15, 2003. ...

Executive branch

The president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term. The prime minister and other ministers are appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly. The country of Azerbaijan is a presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government. ... Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev (Azerbaijani in full: İlham Heydər oğlu Əliyev) (born December 24, 1961) has been president of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party since 2003. ... The New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası) is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. ... Artur Tahir oğlu Rasizadə (born 1935) is the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan. ... The New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası) is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. ...

Legislative branch

The National Assembly (Milli Məclisi) has 125 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies. A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ...

Political parties and elections

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

Main articles: Azerbaijan presidential election, 2003, and [[]], and [[]], and [[]], and [[]]

Main articles: Azerbaijan_parliamentary_election,_2005, and [[]], and [[]], and [[]], and [[]]

Other parties include: 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 Azerbaijan Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Azerbaijan ... Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev (Azerbaijani in full: Ä°lham HeydÉ™r oÄŸlu Əliyev) (born December 24, 1961) has been president of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party since 2003. ... The New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni AzÉ™rbaycan Partiyası) is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. ... Isa Gambar (* February 24th, 1957 in Baku) is an Azerbaijani politician, leader of the the largest opposition bloc to unjustified president Ilham Aliyev. ... The Equality Party (Müsavat Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The National Unity (Milli Birlik) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Azerbaijan National Independence Party (Azərbaycan Milli İstiqlal Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Justice Party(ədalət Partiyası) is a liberal and anti-corruption political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Civil Solidarity Party (Vətəndasş Həmrəyliyi Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AzÉ™rbaycan Xalq CÉ™bhÉ™si Partiyası) is the main opposition political party in Azerbaijan, founded in 1992 by Abulfez Elchibey. ... The Modern Equality Party (Müasir Müsavat Partiyas) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... A presidential election was held in Azerbaijan on October 15, 2003. ... The New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni AzÉ™rbaycan Partiyası) is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Equality Party (Müsavat Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AzÉ™rbaycan Xalq CÉ™bhÉ™si Partiyası) is the main opposition political party in Azerbaijan, founded in 1992 by Abulfez Elchibey. ... The Azerbaijan Democratic Party (Azərbaycan Demokrat Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Motherland Party is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Civil Solidarity Party (Vətəndasş Həmrəyliyi Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Azerbaijan Social Prosperity Party (AzÉ™rbaycan Sosial Rifah Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... Azerbaijan hold Parliamentary elections November 6, 2005. ...

• Azerbaijan Communist Party (Azərbaycan Kommunist Partiyası)
• Azerbaijan National Independence Party (Azərbaycan Milli İstiqlal Partiyası)
• Azerbaijan Liberal Party (Azərbaycan Liberal Partiyası)
• Alliance Party for the Sake of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Naminə Alyans Partiyası)
• Compatriot Party (Yurddaş Partiyası)
• Azerbaijan Democratic Party (Azərbaycan Demokrat Firqəsı)
• Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party (Azerbaycan Sosial-Demokrat Partiyası)
• Virtue Party (Fəzilət Partiyası)

The Azerbaijan Communist Party (Azərbaycan Kommunist Partiyası) is a communist political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Azerbaijan National Independence Party (Azərbaycan Milli İstiqlal Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Azerbaijan Liberal Party (Azərbaycan Liberal Partiyası) is a liberal political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Alliance Party for the Sake of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Naminə Alyans Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Compatriot Party (Yurddash Partiyası) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Azerbaijan Democratic Party (Azərbaycan Demokrat Firkəsi) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party (Azerbaycan Sosial-Demokrat Partiyasi) is a political party in Azerbaijan. ... The Virtue Party (FÉ™zilÉ™t Partiyası) is a political party of Azerbaijan. ...

Judicial branch

The judicial branch is headed by a Constitutional Court, which is only nominally independent. A Constitutional Court is a high court found in many countries which deals primary with constitutional law. ...

Administrative divisions

Azerbijan is divided in 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), and 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika): Absheron Rayonu, Aghchabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baku Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilesavar Rayonu, Jabrayil Rayonu, Jalilabad Rayonu, Dashkasan Rayonu, Davachi Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganja Shahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goychay Rayonu, Hajiqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbajar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lachin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic**, Naftchala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qakh Rayonu, Qazakh Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Shaki Rayonu, Shaki Sahari*, Salian Rayonu, Shamakhi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Shamukh Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Shusha Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Khachmaz Rayonu, Stepanakret (Khankandi) Sahari*, Khanlar Rayonu, Khizi Rayonu, Khojali Rayonu, Khojavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlakh Rayonu, Yevlakh Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu. See rayon for the textile made of processed cellulose. ... A city is an urban area, differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. ... In its final decades of its existence, the Soviet Union consisted of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics (SSR), often called simply Soviet republics. ... Apsheron (Abseron Yasaqligi) is a peninsula and a Rayon in eastern Caucasus in the historical region of Arran. ... Agdam is a rayon in southwestern Azerbaijan. ... Agdas is a rayon in central Azerbaijan. ... Agstafa is a rayon in northwestern Azerbaijan. ... Agsu is a rayon in central Azerbaijan. ... Əli Bayramlı is a sahar of Azerbaijan. ... Astara is also the name of a rayon in Azerbaijan, see Astara, Azerbaijan Astara is a city in the Iranian province of Gilan. ... Satellite view of Baku The Baku harbour on the south of Absheron peninsula The Maiden Tower in old town Baku Bakı (Azerbaijani: Bakı), also known as Baku, is the capital of Azerbaijan. ... Balakan is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Beylaqan is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Cabrayil is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Calilabad is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Daskasan is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Davaci is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Mehmed bin Süleyman Fuzuli, most commonly referred to as Fuzuli, was born around 1494 in the Safavid Empire, although his actual date of birth is unknown. ... Gadabay is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Ganja is both: a slang term for cannabis derived from the Hindustani language; and the Azerbaijani city of Ganja. ... Goranboy is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Goycay is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Imisli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Ismayilli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Kalbacar is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Kurdamir is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Lachin (Laçın) is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Lankaran is a sahar (city) in Azerbaijan. ... Lankaran is a sahar (city) in Azerbaijan. ... Lerik is a town and rayon in southern Azerbaijan, near the Iranian border. ... Masalli is a rayon of Azerbaijan Republic. ... Categories: Caucasus geography stubs | Cities in Azerbaijan ... Naftalan is a sahar (city) in Azerbaijan. ... Map of Azerbaijan, showing Naxçıvan to the bottom-left Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (or Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası) is an exclave of Azerbaijan. ... Neftcala is a city and rayon on the shores of the Caspian Sea. ... Oguz is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Qabala can mean: Qabala Rayonu in Azerbaijan it is also an alternative spelling for Kabbalah This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Qakh (Qax) is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Qazakh (Qazax) is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Qobustan is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Categories: Caucasus geography stubs | Rayons of Azerbaijan ... Qubadli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Qusar is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Saatli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Sabirabad is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Saki is a sahar (city) in Azerbaijan. ... Saki is a sahar (city) in Azerbaijan. ... The Salian Dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire was founded by Conrad II (c. ... Shamakhi (Åžamaxı) is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Samkir is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Categories: Caucasus geography stubs | Cities in Azerbaijan | Rayons of Azerbaijan ... Map of Azerbaijan showing Sumqayit sahar Sumqayit (Sumqayıt in Azerbaijani; former Russian name Sumgait) is a city in Azerbaijan, located near the Caspian Sea, about 30 kilometres away from the capital, Baku. ... This article contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... For other uses of the name Susa please see this page. ... Tartar refers to: the Tatars, an ethnic group in present-day Russia (this term formerly extended to nearly all Central Asian and Mongolian ethnic groups) Mongolian tribe Tartars in 12th century hardened dental plaque (see calculus (dental)). You may also be looking for: tartar sauce, salts of tartaric acid: cream... Tovuz is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Ucar is a rayon, situated to the south of Goycay, in the centre of Azerbaijan. ... Xacmaz is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Xanlar is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Xizi is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Khojali (Azerbaijani: Xocalı), also called Khojaly, is a town and a rayon in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. ... Yardimli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Yevlakh (Azeri: Yevlax) is a small town in Azerbaijan, 265 km west of capital Baku. ... Yevlakh (Azeri: Yevlax) is a small town in Azerbaijan, 265 km west of capital Baku. ... Zangilan is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Zaqatala is a rayon of Azerbaijan. ... Categories: Caucasus geography stubs | Cities in Azerbaijan | Rayons of Azerbaijan ...

References

• Baas, Reyer (March 3, 2003). "Een lange weg voor Azerbeidzjan". The Alfred Mozer Foundation.
• CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website
• Forrest, Brett (Nov. 28, 2005). "Over A Barrel in Baku". Fortune, pp. 54–60.

World Factbook 2004 cover The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... The 2004 Fortune 500 issue The magazine Fortune was founded by Time Magazine co-founder Henry Luce in 1930 at the outset of the Great Depression. ...

External links

• President of the Republic
• Constitutional Court
• Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Washington

See also: Foreign relations of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan is a member of the United Nations; the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; NATOs Partnership for Peace; Euro-Atlantic Partnership; World Health Organization; CFE Treaty member state; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Council of Europe; the Community of Democracies; the International Monetary Fund...