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The Federal Government of Somalia ([Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help), Arabic: حكومة الصومال الاتحادية) is the internationally recognised government of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The Federal Government was established on August 20, 2012, following the end of the interim mandate of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

Executive branch

President

Main articles: President of Somalia and Prime Minister of Somalia

The President of Somalia serves as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the military of Somalia. The Constitution describes the president as "the symbol of the national unity" and "he guardian and promoter of the founding principles of the Constitution." The president's role is largely symbolic, with most of the president's official acts taking place upon the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. Following each parliamentary election, the president appoints the prime minister, who must then form a government and be confirmed by the House of the People. The president may also dissolve the House of the People and call for new elections, but only if the House fails to approve the appointed government or its program.

Candidates for the presidency are nominated by either 20 members of the House of the People or by a Federal Member State. The president is elected by a joint session of the Federal Parliament, with a candidate needing a two-thirds majority of the MPs in order to be elected. If no candidate wins in the first round, a second round between the four candidates with the most votes in the first round is held, also requiring a two-thirds majority. If no candidate is elected president in the second round, a final round between the two candidates with the most votes is held, with a candidate needing only a majority of the votes to be elected. The president serves a four-year term, with no term limits.

Prime Minister

The Prime Minister of Somalia serves as the head of government and the chairman of the Council of Ministers. The prime minister is selected by the president, who then appoints the members of the Council of Ministers on the recommendation of the prime minister. The newly-appointed prime minister and Council must then be confirmed by a majority of the House of the People through a vote of confidence; if the government fails to receive support from a majority of the House, the president must either dissolve the government and appoint a new prime minister or dissolve the House and call for new elections.

Council of Ministers

Main article: Somali Council of Ministers

The Cabinet is formally known as the Council of Ministers. It is appointed and presided over by the prime minister. The Council consists of the prime minister, deputy prime minister, ministers, state ministers and deputy-ministers. The Council also has the exclusive authority to submit the national budget to the (PARLIAMENT OR HOUSE) for approval.

Legislative branch

Main article: Federal Parliament of Somalia

The Federal Parliament of Somalia elects the President and Prime Minister, and has the authority to pass and veto laws. It is bicameral, and consists of a 275 seat lower house as well as an upper house capped at 54 representatives. By law, at least 30% of all MPs must be women. Members of parliament were selected by a Technical Selection Committee, which was tasked with vetting potential legislators that were in turn nominated by a National Constituent Assembly consisting of elders. The current Speaker of the Federal Parliament is Mohamed Osman Jawari.

Judicial branch

Main article: Judiciary of Somalia

A Supreme Court based in Mogadishu as well as an Appeals Court form the core of the judiciary. Smaller local courts also exist. A Judicial Service Council directs all judiciary and advises the President.

Capital

Main article: Mogadishu

The constitution recognizes Mogadishu as the capital of Somalia. The Parliament of Somalia meets in the city, which is also the seat of the nation's Supreme Court. In addition, Mogadishu is the location of the presidential palace, Villa Somalia, where the President resides. The Prime Minister also lives in the city.

International relations

Main articles: Foreign relations of Somalia, List of diplomatic missions of Somalia, and List of diplomatic missions in Somalia

Current diplomatic missions of Somalia

The Federal Government of Somalia is internationally recognized as Somalia's official central government. It occupies the country's seat in the United Nations, the African Union, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Somali federal government has a Permanent Representative and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations. It also has embassies in various countries.

Additionally, there are various foreign diplomatic missions in Somalia. Ethiopia maintains an embassy in Mogadishu, and consulates in Hargeisa in Somaliland and in Garowe in Puntland. Djibouti re-opened its embassy in Mogadishu in December 2010. The following year, India also re-opened its embassy in the capital after a twenty-year absence, as did Turkey. Italy maintains a special diplomatic delegation and a Technical Mission to Mogadishu, and is scheduled to re-open its embassy in the city. In 2011, the United Kingdom likewise announced plans to re-open its embassy in Mogadishu, with Iran following suit in 2012.

External links

• Federal Government of Somalia

Category:Politics of Somalia Category:2012 establishments in Somalia Category:Government of Somalia

Infrastructure

Further information: Communications in Liberia and Transport in Liberia

Since the end of the civil war in 2003, the Liberian telecommunications sector has significantly expanded. Whereas only. Internet penetration in the country is low, with only HOW MANY. Internet access is hampered by high costs due to reliance on satellite Internet access, though the ACE will provide Liberia with landline broadband Internet access beginning in mid-2012.

Numerous daily newspapers are circulated in the country, with most being based in Monrovia, though the reach of newspapers remains limited due to a high illiteracy rate and poverty. Radio remains the primary means of distributing news in the country. The country's only public television service, the Liberia Broadcasting System, ceased operations in 1990 due to the civil war. Several private stations exist, but an unreliable power supply hampers access to television services.

Prior to the civil war, Liberia had an electrical capacity? of WHAT. By 2003, that capacity had dropped to ?, with electricity largely limited to businesses and wealthy households able to afford private generators. Since 2006, the government has expanded electricity production to WHAT, primarily in Monrovia. The publicly-owned Liberia Electricity Corporation is the sole electric utility provider operating in the country. The government has sought investors for the redevelopment of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Project, which would increase the country's generating capacity by 64 MW.

ROADS AND TRAINS

AIRPORTS AND PORTS

The judiciary of Liberia is an independent branch of the government of Liberia, made up of various courts solely at the national level. The language in the Constitution detailing the nature of the judiciary is heavily modeled on Article III of the United States Constitution. The judiciary handles the dispensation of both criminal and civil cases, as well as interprets both the laws and the Constitution of Liberia. The formal courts apply both statutory law and the Anglo-American common law in their dealing with cases, while traditional authorities apply customary law.

Chapter VII of the Constitution outlines the structure of the Liberian judicial system, with Article 65 stating that the judiciary is comprised of "a Supreme Court and such subordinate courts as the legislature may from time to time establish." Article 3 establishes the independence of the judicial system from the executive and legislative branches. Article 20 guarantees the right to a jury trial in all cases heard by courts of record and the right to an appeal in all cases.

The Liberian judicial system consists of:

• The Supreme Court, comprised of the Chief Justice and four Associate Justices.
• Circuit Courts with territorial jurisdiction over their respective counties.
• Specialized Courts, both of record and not of record, with subject-matter jurisdiction over certain areas of law.
• Magistrates' Courts with territorial jurisdiction over limited civil and criminal cases.

The President appoints the Chief Justice, Associate Justices, and all judges of subordinate courts with the consent of the Senate. The justices of the Supreme Court and all judges of courts of record are appointed to life terms, with a mandatory retirement age of 70, and may only be removed by the Legislature through impeachment and conviction. Magistrates and the judges of other courts not of record are appointed to fixed terms and may either be removed by the Legislature or dismissed by the President.

Supreme Court

Main article: Supreme Court of Liberia

The Supreme Court is the highest court in Liberia and the only court explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all cases from the lower courts, administrative agencies and autonomous agencies. In addition, the Court possesses original jurisdiction over a small number of cases. Decisions of the Court are final and binding on the other two branches of government. Article 2 empowers the Court with the authority of judicial review, allowing the Court to strike down any law it deems unconstitutional. The Court is also tasked with promulgating both the rules and procedures regarding the filing and administration of cases in the courts and a code of conduct for all practicing lawyers.

Circuit Courts

The Circuit Courts are courts of record and act as both courts of first instance in certain criminal and civil matters and appellate courts for cases stemming from courts not of record. Circuit Courts hear cases regarding serious criminal charges, as well as civil cases in which the claim is greater than the amount able to be adjudicated in the Magistrates' Courts. Each county possesses a single circuit court with territorial jurisdiction over the county with the exception of Montserrado County, which is served by five separate criminal courts and a single civil court, and River Gee County and Gbarpolu County, which do not have a circuit court. Cases from the Circuit Courts are appealable to the Supreme Court.

Magistrates' Courts

Magistrates' Courts are courts not of record that possess territorial jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters. By law, their jurisdiction is limited to civil cases involving debt or property disputes valued at less than US$2,000, and criminal cases involving petty theft. Magistrates' Courts are led by an appointed Stipendiary Magistrate, usually assisted by two Associate Magistrates. Cases from the Magistrates' Courts are appealable to the Circuit Court of the county in which they reside. Magistrates' Courts may also conduct preliminary hearings on cases beyond their subject-matter jurisdiction and forward such cases to the Circuit Courts.

Specialized Courts

Of record

The Commercial Court, created in 2010, holds subject-matter jurisdiction over all cases

Justices of the Peace

Article 55 of the Constitution authorizes the President to appoint justices of the peace (JPs) to a two-year term. Traditionally, JP courts were courts not of record that shared jurisdiction with the Magistrates' Courts. By law, their jurisdiction was limited to civil cases involving property disputes involving an amount less than US$50 and debt cases involving an amount less than US$100, as well as criminal cases regarding petty theft. Cases from JP courts were appealable to the Circuit Courts.

JPs have historically been seen as corrupt and ineffective, with many JPs hearing cases beyond their legal jurisdiction for exorbitant fees. In 2006, the International Crisis Group estimated that half of the 300 JPs in Liberia were illiterate. Additionally, several JPs continued to hear cases for fees despite the expiration of their appointments. Since 2006, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has not appointed JPs to office, leaving the JP courts defunct.