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Country Name

Conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan

Conventional short form: Bhutan

Administrative Divisions

18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

Independence

8 August 1949 (from India)

National Holiday

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

Constitution

No written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in November 2004 presented a draft to the Council of Ministers; now awaiting referendum

Legal System

based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law

Executive Branch

Chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)

Head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo Sangay NGEDUP (since 5 September 2005)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch

Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote

Legislative Branch

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms)

Elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)

Election results: NA

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political Parties and Leaders

No legal parties

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled)

Flag Description

Divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

National Anthem

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Government Type

Monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital

Thimphu

Diplomatic Representation in the US

None; Note - Bhutan Has A Permanent Mission To The UN; Address
2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US
Consulate(s) General
New York

Diplomatic Representation from the US

The US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)

International Organization Participation

AsDB
CP
FAO
G-77
IBRD
ICAO
IDA
IFAD
IFC
IMF
IOC
IOM (observer)
ITU
NAM

OPCW (signatory)
SAARC
SACEP
UN
UNCTAD
UNESCO
UNIDO
UPU
WCO
WHO
WIPO
WMO
WToO
WTO (observer)

Bhutan