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Egypt GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government: Constitution of 1971 delegates majority of
power to president, who dominates two-chamber legislature--lower
People's Assembly and upper Consultative Council, created in 1978
from the old Central Committee of the Arab Socialist Union--and
judiciary, although each constitutionally independent. President
possesses virtually unrestricted power to appoint and dismiss
officials, including vice president or vice-presidents, prime
minister and members of Council of Ministers, military officers,
and governors of the twenty-six administrative subdivisions known
as governorates.
Politics: President Husni Mubarak (1981- ), former
military officer, as were his predecessors: Gamal Abdul Nasser
(1954-70) and Anwar as Sadat (1970-81). Nasser was leader and
Sadat member of Free Officers' group that overthrew monarchy in
1952 Revolution. President dominated National Democratic Party
formed in 1977. Opposition composed of number of secular and
religious parties in legislature, of which Muslim Brotherhood was
the chief, and some nonparliamentary Islamic extremist groups.
International Organizations: Member of United Nations
and its specialized agencies; Organization of African Unity; and
Nonaligned Movement. Founding member of League of Arab States
(Arab League), headquartered in Cairo until after Egypt signed
peace treaty with Israel in March 1979. Arab League expelled
Egypt and moved headquarters out of country. In 1990 Arab League
headquarters scheduled to return to Cairo.
Data as of December 1990
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