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NepalGOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government: Constitutional monarchy. Multiparty
democracy
established with November 1990 constitution; replaced
panchayat system. First elections to bicameral
legislature,
Parliament, made up of House of Representatives and
National
Council, held May 1991. Executive powers vested in king
and Council
of Ministers. Prime minister appointed by king leader of
political
party with majority in House of Representatives.
Administrative Divisions: Fourteen zones and
seventy-five
districts grouped into five development zones. Following
prodemocracy movement, former village panchayat
renamed
Village Development Committee and town panchayat
renamed
Municipal Development Committee. Each district headed by a
chief
district officer responsible for maintaining law and order
and
coordinating works of field agencies of different
ministries.
Judiciary: Blend of Hindu and Western legal
traditions.
New judicial system established with 1990 constitution.
Supreme
Court at apex of system; fifty-four appellate courts,
numerous
district courts. Judicial Council monitored court system's
performance, advised king and government on judicial
matters and
appointments.
Foreign Relations: Foreign policy focused on
maintaining
equidistant and friendly relations with India and China.
Founding
member of non-aligned movement; proposed as zone of peace
in 1975;
active member of South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation
(SAARC--see Glossary)
and international organizations.
Media: Approximately 400 Nepalese newspapers and
periodicals in 1991. Freedom of expression constitutional
right.
Radio and television programming controlled by government.
Data as of September 1991
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