Politics of Albania 67576 223317987 2008-07-03T15:19:25Z 213.207.40.60 /* Executive branch */ {{Politics of Albania}} '''Politics of Albania''' takes place in a framework of a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] [[republic]], whereby the [[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]] is the [[head of government]], and of a [[multi-party system]]. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the government. [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the [[government]] and parliament, the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] (''Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë''). Since 1991, the introduction of pluralism, the party system is dominated by the [[Democratic Party of Albania]] and the socialist (post-communist) [[Socialist Party of Albania]]. ==Executive branch== {{office-table}} !align=left|[[List of Presidents of Albania|President]] |[[Bamir Topi]] | |[[20 July]] [[2007]] |- !align=left|[[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]] |[[Sali Berisha]] |[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]] |[[3 September]] [[2005]] |- |Other government parties | |[[Republican Party of Albania|PR]] |[Democristian Party of Albania (PDK) |}Reformator Democratics Party of Albania (PDR) The head of state in [[Albania]] is the [[President]] of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] by secret ballot, requiring a two-thirds majority of the votes of all deputies. The next election will run in the year 2012. The current President of the Republic is [[Bamir Topi]]. The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers ([[Prime Minister]]). Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (Prime Minister) is appointed by the President; ministers are nominated by the President on the basis of the Prime Minister's recommendation. The [[People's Assembly]] must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs. ==Legislative branch== The [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] (''Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë'') is the lawmaking body in Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, of which 100 are directly elected by an absolute majority of the voters, and 40 are chosen by their parties on the basis of proportional representation. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker) has two deputies and chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every 4 years. The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court, and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency, and other official information media. ==Political parties and elections== {{elect|List of political parties in Albania|Elections in Albania}} {{Albanian legislative election, 2005}} {{main|Albania general election, 2005}} ==Judicial branch== The court system consists of a Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation, appeals courts, and district courts. The Constitutional Court comprises nine members appointed by the People's Assembly for maximum 9-year terms. The Constitutional Court interprets the constitution, determines the constitutionality of laws, and resolves disagreements between local and federal authorities. The remaining courts are each divided into three jurisdictions: criminal, civil, and military. The Court of Cassation is the highest court of appeal and consists of 11 members appointed by the People's Assembly and serving 7-year terms. The President of the Republic chairs the High Council of Justice (HCJ) charged with appointing and dismissing other judges. The HCJ was expanded in late 1997 to comprise 13 members from among the various branches of government. A college of three judges renders Albanian court verdicts; there is no jury trial, although the college is sometimes referred to in the Albanian press as the "jury." <!-- ===Principal Government Officials=== (''From the [[Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments]] as of [[December 31]], [[2002]] with minor corrections'') *[[List of Presidents of Albania|President]]: [[Alfred Moisiu]] *[[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]: [[Sali Berisha]] [http://www.keshilliministrave.al/shqip/qeveria/perberja.asp] *Deputy Prime Minister: [[Ilir Rusmali]] *Minister of Agriculture: [[Jemin Gjana]] *Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, & Sports: [[Bujar Leskaj]] *Minister of Defense: [[Fatmir Mediu]] *Minister of Education & Science: [[Genc Pollo]] *Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy: [[Genc Ruli]] *Minister of Environment: [[Lufter Xhuveli]] *Minister of Finance: [[Ridvan Bode]] *Minister of Foreign Affairs: [[Besnik Mustafaj]] *Minister of Health: [[Maksim Cikuli]] *Minister of Justice: [[Aldo Bumci]] *Minister of Labor & Social Issues: [[Koco Barka]] *Minister of Interior: [[Sokol Olldashi]] *Minister of Public Works & Transport and Telecommunications: [[Lulezim Basha]] *Minister of State for Integration: [[Arenca Troshani]] *Chairman, National Intelligence Service: *Governor, Albanian State Bank: [[Ardian Fullani]] *Ambassador to the [[United States]]: [[no actual]] *Permanent Representative to the [[United Nations]], [[New York]]: [[Agim Nesho]]--> ==International Organization Participation== [[Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation|BSEC]], [[Council of Europe|CE]], [[Central European Initiative|CEI]], [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council|EAPC]], [[European Bank for Reconstruction and Development|EBRD]], [[United Nations Economic Commission for Europe|ECE]], [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]], [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|IBRD]], [[International Criminal Court|ICC]], [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|ICRM]], [[International Development Association|IDA]], [[Islamic Development Bank|IDB]], [[International Fund for Agricultural Development|IFAD]], [[International Finance Corporation|IFC]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|IFRCS]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[International Maritime Organization|IMO]], [[Intelsat]] (nonsignatory user), [[Interpol]], [[IOC]], [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]], [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]], [[International Telecommunication Union|ITU]], [[NATO]] (as of 2009) [[Organization of the Islamic Conference|OIC]], [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons|OPCW]], [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]], [[Partnership for Peace|PFP]], [[Southeast European Cooperative Initiative|SECI]], [[United Nations|UN]], [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UNCTAD]], [[UNESCO]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia|UNOMIG]], [[Universal Postal Union|UPU]], [[World Customs Organization|WCO]], [[World Federation of Trade Unions|WFTU]], [[World Health Organization|WHO]], [[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]], [[World Meteorological Organization|WMO]], [[World Tourism Organization|WToO]], [[World Trade Organization|WTrO]] (applicant). ==Administrative Divisions== Albania is divided into [[Counties of Albania|12 counties]] or [[prefecture]]s. Counties are appointed by the Council of Ministers. Each [[county]] comprises several districts (Rreths), of which there are 36. Each district has its own local administration and governor. District governors are elected by the District Council, whose members are selected from party lists made public to voters before local elections, on the basis of proportional representation. City mayors are directly elected by voters, while city councils are chosen by proportional representation. Districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki): * [[District of Berat|Berat]] * [[District of Bulqizë|Bulqizë]] * [[District of Delvinë|Delvinë]] * [[District of Devoll|Devoll]] ([[Bilisht]]) * [[District of Dibër|Dibër]] ([[Peshkopi]]) * [[District of Durrës|Durrës]] * [[District of Elbasan|Elbasan]] * [[District of Fier|Fier]] * [[District of Gjirokastër|Gjirokastër]] * [[District of Gramsh|Gramsh]] * [[District of Has|Has]] ([[Krumë]]) * [[District of Kavajë|Kavajë]] * [[District of Kolonjë|Kolonjë]] ([[Ersekë]]) * [[District of Korçë|Korçë]] * [[District of Krujë|Krujë]] * [[District of Kuçovë|Kuçovë]] * [[District of Kukës|Kukës]] * [[District of Kurbin|Kurbin]] * [[District of Lezhë|Lezhë]] * [[District of Librazhd|Librazhd]] * [[District of Lushnjë|Lushnjë]] * [[District of Malësi e Madhe|Malësi e Madhe]] ([[Koplik]]) * [[District of Mallakastër|Mallakastër]] ([[Ballsh]]) * [[District of Mat|Mat]] ([[Burrel, Albania|Burrel]]) * [[District of Mirditë|Mirditë]] ([[Rrëshen]]) * [[District of Peqin|Peqin]] * [[District of Përmet|Përmet]] * [[District of Pogradec|Pogradec]] * [[District of Pukë|Pukë]] * [[District of Sarandë|Sarandë]] * [[District of Shkodër|Shkodër]] * [[District of Skrapar|Skrapar]] ([[Çorovodë]]) * [[District of Tepelenë|Tepelenë]] * [[District of Tirana|Tirana]] ([[Tirana]]) * [[District of Tropojë|Tropojë]] ([[Bajram Curri (town)|Bajram Curri]]) * [[District of Vlorë|Vlorë]] :''Note: Administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses).'' See also: [[List of cities in Albania]]. ==External links== :'''Official Sites''' * [http://kushtetuta.independentkosova.com/ Constitutions of Albania in several languages] * [http://www.president.al/english/pub/kushtetuta.asp Albanian Constitution] * [http://www.parlament.al Albanian Parliament] * [http://www.keshilliministrave.al/english/default.asp Council of Ministers] * [http://www.mfa.gov.al/english Ministry of Foreign Affairs] * [http://www.mpo.gov.al/anglisht/mrp-ENGLISH.htm Ministry of Interior] * [http://www.president.al Presidency of Albania] *[http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/al00t___.html Albanian Constitution] Translated in English {{Politics of Europe}} [[Category:Politics of Albania]] [[bn:আলবেনিয়ার রাজনীতি]] [[bs:Politika Albanije]] [[es:Política de Albania]] [[fr:Politique de l'Albanie]] [[it:Politica dell'Albania]] [[hu:Albánia államszervezete és közigazgatása]] [[pl:Ustrój polityczny Albanii]] [[pt:Política da Albânia]] [[sl:Politika Albanije]] [[sv:Albaniens statsskick]] [[zh:阿尔巴尼亚政治]]