By the terms of the 1964 constitution, as substantially amended in 1974, Malta is a constitutional republic. The head of state is the president, who is appointed by the parliament to serve for five years. Legislative authority is vested in the House of Representatives (il Kamara tad Deputati), composed of 65 members elected to five-year terms by universal adult suffrage on the basis of proportional representation. The head of government is a prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of parliament and responsible to the legislature. The prime minister is assisted by a Cabinet. Major political parties are the Partit Laburista (PL) (formerly known as Malta Labour Party, MLP; Partit tal-Haddiema) and the Partit Nazzjonalista (PN; Nationalist Party).

Country name:

Conventional long form: Republic of Malta

Conventional short form: Malta

Local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta

Local short form: Malta

Government type:

Republic

Capital:

Valletta (2005 est. 6,300 pop.)

Administrative divisions:

None (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders.

Independence:

21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution:

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987.

Legal system:

Based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal.

Executive branch:

Chief of state: President George ABELA (since 4 April 2009)

Head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Elections: President elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held 12 January 2009 (next to be held by April 2014); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister.

Election results: George ABELA elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 66 out of 69 votes

Legislative branch:

Unicameral House of Representatives (il Kamara tad Deputati) (usually 65 seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms).

Elections: last held 8 March 2008 (next to be by March 2013).

Election results: percent of vote by party - PN 49.3%, PL 48.8%, others 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 34.

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister.

Political parties and leaders:

Alternativa Demokratika / Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Michael BRIGUGLIO]

Partit Laburista or PL [Joseph MUSCAT]

Partit Nazzjonalista or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

Malta Communist Party  [Victor DEGIONANNI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

Australia Group, C, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO.

Flag description:

Two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red.