Download - Laos: Political Setting
Political Setting:
Laos
• The present government of Laosis a republic, effectivelycontrolled by the Communist LaoPeople’s Revolutionary Party(LPRP). The Lao People’sDemocratic Republic wasproclaimed on December 2,
Political Setting:
Laos
1975, replacing the Kingdom ofLaos, which gainedindependence from France in1953. From 1975 to 1991, powernominally resided in an interimSupreme People’s Assembly butwas actually wielded by the
Political Setting:
Laos
Political Bureau of the LPRP. In1989 national elections wereheld for the first time, and in1991 Laos’s first constitution wasenacted. All citizens who areaged 18 years or older may vote.
Political Setting:
Laos
A. Executive
Under the 1991 constitution,executive power is vested in apresident, who is chosen by theNational Assembly for a five-yearterm. The president is assistedby a vice president. The
Political Setting:
Laos
president appoints a primeminister, whose cabinet must beapproved by the NationalAssembly. The prime ministerand his government also serve afive-year term.
Political Setting:
LaosB. Legislature
Legislative power rests with theNational Assembly. Its 109members are elected every fiveyears. The National Assemblyhas the power to amend theconstitution, pass laws, andapprove the budget.
Political Setting:
Laos
C. Judiciary
Justice is administered by theSupreme People’s Court and byprovincial and district people’scourts. Both the president of theSupreme People’s Court and thepublic prosecutor general are
Political Setting:
Laos
appointed by the NationalAssembly. Judges are appointedby the Ministry of Justice.
Political Setting:
Laos
C. Local Government
Laos is divided into 16 provinces,the special region ofXaisomboun, and themunicipality of Vientiane.Provinces are divided intodistricts comprising towns and
Political Setting:
Laos
villages. All are administered bypeople’s administrativecommittees, whose activities areclosely monitored at the districtand provincial levels by parallelcommittees of the LPRP.
Political Setting:
Laos
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