7.0 - Government and Politics

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7.1 - Government

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Organization

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Power is theoretically vested in the people through People's Congresses[1], Popular Committees[2][3][4], trade unions[5], vocational syndicates[6], and the General People's Congress (GPC)[7], with its General Secretariat[8]. The head of state is the revolutionary leader, elected by the GPC. Executive power is exercised by the GPC, which is composed of 17 secretariats. The country is divided into three provinces, 10 governorates, and 1,500 administrative communes.[9]

Constitution[10]

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The GPC, in a Sebha meeting from 2 to 28 March 1977, proclaimed its adherence to freedom and its readiness to defend it within its own land. It announced its adherence to socialism, its commitment to achieving Arab unity, and its reverence for human values. The constitution confirmed the leadership of Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi[11], the Revolutionary Leader.

The concept of Jamahiriya, law of the people, is based on a mixture of socialist and Islamic theories derived from Qadhafi's own nomadic background and education.

Executive Branch.[12] Colonel Muammar Qadhafi serves, in effect, as the executive officer, although such functions officially lie with the General Secretary of the GPC - a position Qadhafi officially relinquished in 1979. The General Secretariat assists the General Secretary with the 20 member GPC.

Legislative Branch.[13][14] The Senate and House of Representatives were dissolved after the coup d'etat[15] of September 1969, and the provisional Constitution issued in December 1969 made no mention of elections or a return to parliamentary procedure. In January 1971, Colonel Qadhafi announced that a new legislature would be appointed, not elected; no date was mentioned. All political parties other than the Arab Socialist Union were banned. In November 1975, provision was made for the creation of the 1,112-member General National Congress of the Arab Socialist Union that met officially in January 1976. This later became the GPC, which met for the first time in November 1976, and in March 1977 began introducing the changes outlined in the Constitution.

Judicial Branch.[16][17] The judicial system is based on the Italian civil law system and Islamic law and is composed, in order of seniority, of the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and Courts of First Instance and Summary Courts. There are separate religious courts. All courts convene in open session, unless public morals or public order require a closed session; all judgments, however, are delivered in open session. Cases are heard in Arabic; interpreters are provided for non-Arabs. Courts apply the Libyan codes that include all the traditional branches of law, such as civil, commercial, and penal codes. Committees were formed in 1971 to examine Libyan law and ensure that it coincides with the rules of shari'a. The proclamation of People's Authority in the Jamahiriya provides that the Qur'an is the law of society. There is no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts, and the system has not accepted compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction.

Key Government Officials[18]

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Position Current Holder
Head of State, Leader of the Revolution, Supreme Commander, and Leader of the General Committee for Defense, Tripoli Colonel Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi
Head of Government, Secretary of the General People's Committee (Premier) Mubarak al-Shamekh (2 March 2000)
Member of Revolutionary Committee al-Khuwaylidi Humaydi
Secretary General, People's Congress Zanati Muhammed al-Zanati
Assistant Secretary General, People's Congress Ahmad Mohamed Ibrahim
Secretary General, People's Committee Mahammed al-Manqush
Secretary of the General People's Committee for African Unity Ali Abd Al-Salam Al-Turayki
Secretary of the General People's Committee for Finance Abd al-Salam al-Ujayli Al-Hudayni
Secretary of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison & International Cooperation Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgham
Secretary of the General People's Committee for Justice & Public Security Abd al-Rahman Al-Abbar
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York Abuzed Omar Dorda
Director, External Security Organization Musa Kousa
Director of Operations Colonel Ahmad'Awn
Chief of Staff Colonel Farajal-Hidayri
Chief of Staff, Libyan Armed Forces (Army equivalent) Brigadier General al-Madhi al-arabi Abd-al-Hafiz
Chief of Staff, Libyan Air and Air Defense Brigadier General Ali al-Rafi Al-Sharif
Chief of Naval Operations Colonel Hamdi bin Shabani bin Ramdan Al-Suwaihli
Chief, High Committee for Security Brigadier General Ali al-Rafi Al-Sharif
Secretary General General Abu Bakr Yunis
Commander, Armaments Colonel Khalifah Ahnish
Commander, Coastal Defense Colonel Ahmad Qadhdhaf-al-Damm
Commander, 7th Division Colonel Sa'id 'Uwaydat Qadhafi
Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Bashir
Justice and Public Security Minister Abderrahman Al-Abbar

Administrative Divisions

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There are 25 municipalities in Libya: Ajdabiya, Al Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Benghazi, Darhah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tobruk, Yafran, and Alitan.[19]

References

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  1. ^ http://www.gpcongress.gov.ly/ - Peoples Congress Official Website
  2. ^ http://www.gpc.gov.ly/html/home.php - General Peoples Committees Official Website
  3. ^ http://www.fita.org/countries/libya.html?ma_rubrique=cadre - Libya Contry Profile
  4. ^ http://www.uam.es/otroscentros/medina/libya/libpolpol.htm - Libya Government Overview
  5. ^ ICTUR et al,, ed (2005). Trade Unions of the World (6th ed.). London, UK: John Harper Publishing. ISBN 0-9543811-5-7.
  6. ^ http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41727.htm - State Department
  7. ^ http://www.gpcongress.gov.ly/ - Peoples Congress Official Website
  8. ^ http://countrystudies.us/libya/69.htm - Country Studies
  9. ^ Pan, Chia-Lin (1949) "The Population of Libya" Population Studies, 3(1): pp. 100-125, p. 104
  10. ^ http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ly00000_.html - Libya's Constitution
  11. ^ US Department of State's Background Notes, (November 2005) "Libya - History", U.S. Dept. of State, Accessed July 14, 2006 CE
  12. ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ly.html - CIA Factbook
  13. ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ly.html - CIA Factbook
  14. ^ http://www.faqs.org/docs/factbook/print/ly.html - World Factbook 2002
  15. ^ Ostrovsky, Victor; Claire Hoy (1990). By Way of Deception. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-92614-6.
  16. ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ly.html - CIA Factbook
  17. ^ http://www.indexmundi.com/libya/judicial_branch.html - Definition
  18. ^ www.infoplease.com/world/leaders/libya.html - InfoPlease.com
  19. ^ http://statoids.com/uly.html - Districts of Libya