Official name

Republic of Lebanon

Form of state

Parliamentary republic

Legal system

Based on the 1926 constitution (with amendments incorporated in 1990) and the Civil Procedure Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code

National legislature

Under the electoral law of July 16th 1992, the unicameral National Assembly has 128 seats, equally divided between Muslims and Christians

Electoral system

Universal direct suffrage over the age of 21

National elections

The parliamentary election scheduled for June 2013 has been postponed following an extension of the term of parliament. The election was rescheduled for November 2014 but has been postponed further, to May 2017

Head of state

The president must be a Maronite Christian. Parliament has yet to elect a new president after Michel Suleiman's six-year term came to an end in May 2014

National government

The prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim and is chosen by the president after consultation with parliament. The current prime minister is holding the post in an acting capacity. The cabinet is appointed by the prime minister and the president. Ministers need not be part of the National Assembly but are responsible to it. Cabinet seats are customarily distributed on a sectarian basis

Main political organisations

Political parties tend to be weak and organised on a sectarian basis. The "March 14th" alliance is headed by the Future Movement (Sunni) with the Lebanese Forces (Christian) in loose alliance with the Progressive Socialist Party (Druze) and the Phalange (Christian). The "March 8th" bloc comprises Hizbullah (Shia), Amal (Shia) and the Free Patriotic Movement (Christian)

Key ministers

Prime minister: Tammam Salam (Sunni Muslim)

Deputy prime minister and defence: Samir Mokbel (Greek Orthodox Christian)

Culture: Remon Areiji (Maronite Christian)

Economy & trade: Alain Hakim (Catholic Christian)

Education: Elias Abu Saab (Maronite Christian)

Energy & water: Arthur Nazarian (Armenian Orthodox)

Environment: Mohammed Mashnouq (Sunni Muslim)

Finance: Ali Hassan Khalil (Shia Muslim)

Foreign affairs: Gebran Bassil (Maronite Christian)

Health: Wael Abu Faour (Druze)

Industry: Hussein Hajj Hasan (Shia Muslim)

Information: Ramzi Joreige (Greek Orthodox)

Interior: Nuhad Mashnouq (Sunni Muslim)

Justice: Alice Shabtini (acting, Maronite Christian)

Labour: Sejaan Azzi (Maronite Christian)

Public works & transportation: Ghazi Zeaiter (Shia Muslim)

Social affairs: Rashid Derbas (Sunni Muslim)

Telecommunications: Boutros Harb (Maronite Christian)

Tourism: Michel Pharaon (Greek Catholic)

Parliamentary speaker

Nabih Berri (Shia Muslim)

Central bank governor

Riad Salameh (Maronite Christian)