Government and Politics of Egypt

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj

Legal System

based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: if the father was born in Egypt dual citizenship recognized: only with prior permission from the government residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Abdel Fattah el-SISI (since 8 June 2014); el-SISI, a former military commander, led a coup that removed President Mohamed MORSI in July 2013 and subsequently won the presidential election in May 2014; reelected in March 2018 and again in December 2023 for a six-year term head of government: Prime Minister Mostafa MADBOULY (since 7 June 2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, with the approval of the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; the 2019 constitutional amendments removed the two-term limit, allowing el-SISI to remain eligible through at least 2030; most recent election held in December 2023 election results: Abdel Fattah el-SISI reelected president in December 2023; percent of vote - Abdel Fattah el-SISI approximately 89.6%, Hazem OMAR approximately 4.5%, Farid ZAHRAN approximately 4.0%, Abdel-Sanad YAMAMA approximately 1.8%

Legislative Branch

bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half the members) elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 7 and 20 November, 1 December 2005;(next to be held November-December 2010); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2004 (next to be held May-June 2007) election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 311, NWP 6, Tagammu 2, Tomorrow Party 1, independents 112 (12 seats to be determined by rerun elections, 10 seats appointed by President); Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial Branch

Supreme Constitutional Court

Political Parties

National Democratic Party or NDP [Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (governing party)]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMAA]; Tomorrow Party [Ayman NOUR] note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government

Head of State

Past President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK (Resigned 2-11-2011)

Head of Government

Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed NAZIF

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Elections

president elected by popular vote for six-year term (no term limits); note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a multicandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominated by the People’s Assembly and the nomination was validated by a national, popular referendum; last referendum held 26 September 1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7 September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011

Election Results

Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote - Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%

Constitution

11-Sep-71

Independence

28 February 1922 (from UK)

National Holiday

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

International Organization Participation

ABEDA, ACC, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador designate Francis J. RICCIARDONE, Jr. embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900 telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300 FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200

Capital City

Cairo

Location

30 03 N, 31 15 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

from the Arabic "al-Qahira," meaning "the victorious"

U.S. Embassy Cairo Consular Section 5 Tawfik Diab Street Garden City, Cairo telephone: (20) 2-2797-2301 fax: (20) 2-2797-2472 email: consularcairoacs@state.gov Website: http://egypt.usembassy.gov/index.html Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyCairo For after-hours emergencies involving U.S. citizens, call (20) 2-2797-3300. The American Citizens Services unit uses an online appointment system for those coming to the Embassy to receive routine consular services Sunday through Wednesday, except for official holidays (U.S. and Egyptian). Phone-inquiry hours are between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The latest Embassy Emergency or Security Message for U.S. Citizens can be found at http://egypt.usembassy.gov The mailing address from the United States is: Consular Section, Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900. Within Egypt or from a third country, it is 8 Kamal el-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo, Egypt. Consular information is available on the U.S. Embassy Cairo web site. Visa-related inquiries should be sent by e-mail.

Military Branches

Army, Navy, Egyptian Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya il-Misriya), Egyptian Air Defense Command

Service Age and Obligation

18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation - 18-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; voluntary enlistment possible from age 16