Conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco Conventional short form: Morocco Local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah Local short form: Al Maghrib
Government type:
Constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Rabat
Administrative divisions:
14 regions: Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the United States Government; one additional region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, falls entirely within Western Sahara; another region, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sahia El Hamra, falls mostly within Western Sahara; a small portion of this region, in the southwestern part of the country, falls within Moroccan-administered territory as recognized by the United States; the province of Guelmim-Es Smara lies in both entities
Independence:
2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Constitution:
10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system:
Based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; Judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
Executive branch:
Chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30.07.1999) Head of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9 October 2002) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch:
Bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; 295 by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) Elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2006); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2007) Election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, PI 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD 12, other 42; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - USFP 50, PI 48, PJD 42, RNI 41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, other 50
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)
Political parties
Action Party or PA; Alliance of Liberties or ADL; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj; Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS; Citizen Forces or FC; Citizen’s Initiatives for Development; Constitutional Union or UC; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD; Democratic Union or UD; Environment and Development Party or PED; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI; Justice and Development Party or PJD; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML; National Democratic Party or PND; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI; National Popular Movement or MNP; National Rally of Independents or RNI; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS; Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE; Party of the Unified Socialist Left or GSU; Popular Movement or MP; Reform and Development Party or PRD; Social Center Party or PSC; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP
Political pressure groups:
Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM; Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM; National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT; Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT
Flag description:
Red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman’s (Solomon’s) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912
