Long-form name: Principality of Monaco

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Monaco

Administrative divisions: 4 quarters (quartiers, singular--quartier); Fontvielle, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Independence: 1419, rule by the House of Grimaldi

Constitution: 17 December 1962

Legal system: based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day, 19 November

Branches: legislative branch is composed of the prince and National Council of 18 members; executive consists of the prince as chief of state, the minister of state as head of government (senior French civil servant appointed by prince), and the Council of Government as Cabinet; judicial authority is delegated by the prince to the Supreme Tribunal

Leader: @m5Chief of State--Prince RAINIER III (since November 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre (born 14 March 1958) @m5Head of Government Minister of State Jean AUSSEIL (since 10 September 1985

Suffrage: universal adult

Elections: National Council every five years; national election held 24 January 1988; municipal election held February 1983

Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union (UND), Democratic Union Movement (MUD), Monaco Action, Monegasque Socialist Party (PSM)

Voting strength: National Council--UND 18 seats

Member of: IAEA, ICAO, IHO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, UN (permanent observer), UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation: none; US--the US Consul General in Nice (France) is accredited to Monaco

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

NOTE: The information regarding Monaco on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Monaco Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Monaco Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.