Politics of Egypt
Conventional Long Form Name of country: Arab Republic of Egypt
Capital: Cairo
Type of Government: republic
Date of Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956); note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically
National Holiday(s): National Day, 23 July (1952)
Chief of State: Interim President Adly MANSOUR Head of Government: Interim Prime Minister Hazem el-BEBLAWI
Capital: Cairo
Type of Government: republic
Date of Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956); note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically
National Holiday(s): National Day, 23 July (1952)
Chief of State: Interim President Adly MANSOUR Head of Government: Interim Prime Minister Hazem el-BEBLAWI
Description of Executive Branch/Powers: presidential election (first round held on 23-24 May 2012; runoff held on 16-17 June 2012 (next election NA)
Description of Legislative Branch/Powers: bicameral parliament consists of the Shura Council or Majlis al-Shura that traditionally functions mostly in a consultative role (at least 150 seats with up to one-tenth of body appointed by the president to serve six-year terms - as stated in the 2012 constitution); and the House of Representatives (at least 350 seats - as stated in the 2012 constitution; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly and Advisory Council elections last held between November and January 2012; elections for new House of Representatives announced for April or May 2013, but probably will be delayed pending decision by the Administrative Court; election for the Shura Council to be held within one year
Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of the court president and NA judges); Supreme Constitutional Court or SCC (consists of the court president and 10 members)judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judge appointment and tenure NA; SCC judges appointed by the president of the republic; judge tenure NA;
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; courts of limited jurisdiction; Family Court (established in 2004)
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Ambassador to the U.S: Ambassador Mohamed M. TAWFIK
embassy in the U.S.: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) in the U.S.: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
U.S. Ambassador:Ambassador Charge d'Affaires David M. SATTERFIELD
Location of U.S. embassy in Egypt: 5 Tawfik Diab St., Garden City, Cairo
consulate(s) of the U.S.: N/A
representative to UN: N/A
Description of Legislative Branch/Powers: bicameral parliament consists of the Shura Council or Majlis al-Shura that traditionally functions mostly in a consultative role (at least 150 seats with up to one-tenth of body appointed by the president to serve six-year terms - as stated in the 2012 constitution); and the House of Representatives (at least 350 seats - as stated in the 2012 constitution; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly and Advisory Council elections last held between November and January 2012; elections for new House of Representatives announced for April or May 2013, but probably will be delayed pending decision by the Administrative Court; election for the Shura Council to be held within one year
Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of the court president and NA judges); Supreme Constitutional Court or SCC (consists of the court president and 10 members)judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judge appointment and tenure NA; SCC judges appointed by the president of the republic; judge tenure NA;
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; courts of limited jurisdiction; Family Court (established in 2004)
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Ambassador to the U.S: Ambassador Mohamed M. TAWFIK
embassy in the U.S.: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) in the U.S.: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
U.S. Ambassador:Ambassador Charge d'Affaires David M. SATTERFIELD
Location of U.S. embassy in Egypt: 5 Tawfik Diab St., Garden City, Cairo
consulate(s) of the U.S.: N/A
representative to UN: N/A
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)
National Symbol(s): Golden eagle
International Disputes: Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir
Quantity of refugees: 70,028 (West Bank and Gaza Strip); 12,124 (Sudan); 5,703 (Iraq) (2012); 7,957 (Somalia) (2013); 131,707 (Syria) (2014)
Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons: N/A
Quantity of Stateless Persons: 60 (2012)
Description of current human trafficking issues related to this country: N/A
Description of Illicit Drug trafficking/use: transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations
International Disputes: Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir
Quantity of refugees: 70,028 (West Bank and Gaza Strip); 12,124 (Sudan); 5,703 (Iraq) (2012); 7,957 (Somalia) (2013); 131,707 (Syria) (2014)
Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons: N/A
Quantity of Stateless Persons: 60 (2012)
Description of current human trafficking issues related to this country: N/A
Description of Illicit Drug trafficking/use: transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations