Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form : Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib

Data code MO

Government type constitutional monarchy

National capital Rabat

Administrative divisions 36 provinces and 5 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Assa-Zag, Azilal, BeniMellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaades Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Es Smara, Fes*, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane,Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech*, Meknes*,Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan,Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit
note : decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of thereorganization not yet available

Independence 2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King HASSAN II's accessionto the throne)

Constitution 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicamerallegislature) September 1996

Legal system based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicialreview of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court

Suffrage 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961)
head of government: Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the king
elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch; prime minister appointed bythe king

Legislative branch unicameral Chamber of Representatives or Majlis Nawab (333 seats; 222elected by popular vote, 111 indirectly elected by an electoral college madeup of government, professional, and labor representatives; members serve six-yearterms); note - bicameral legislature to be introduced in September 1997; membersof the upper house will be indirectly elected to serve nine-year terms, withone-third of the members renewed every three years; members of the lower housewill be directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms
elections: popular elections last held 15 June 1993; indirect elections last held17 September 1993 (next election will be for the new bicameral legislature with both indirect and popular elections scheduled to be held in September1997)
election results: popular elections - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -USFP 48, IP 43, MP 33, RNI 28, UC 27, PND 14, MNP 14, PPS 6, PDI 3, SAP 2,PA 2, OADP 2; indirect elections - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - UC 27, MP 18, RNI 13, MNP 11, PND 10, IP 7, Party of Shura and Istiqlal6, USFP 4, PPS 4, CDT 4, UTM 3, UGTM 2, SAP 2

Judicial branch Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the SupremeCouncil of the Judiciary, presided over by the king

Political parties and leaders
opposition : Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Abderrahman YOUSSFI; IstiqlalParty (IP), M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA;Organization of Democratic and Popular Action (OADP), Mohamed Ben SAID; DemocraticSocialist Party, Issa al-OUARDIGHI
pro-government: Constitutional Union (UC), Abdelatif SEMLALI; Popular Movement (MP),Mohamed LAENSER; National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI;National Popular Movement (MNP), Mahjoubi AHARDANE; National Democratic Movement,Mohamed AARCHANE
independents: National Rally of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN; Democracy and IstiqlalParty (PDI), leader NA; Action Party (PA), Abdullah SENHAJI; Non-ObedienceCandidates (SAP), leader NA
labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections only): Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), Nabir AMAOUI; General Unionof Moroccan Workers (UGTM), Abderrazzak AFILAL; Moroccan Union of Workers(UTM), Mahjoub BENSEDIQ; Party of Shura and Istiqlal, Abdelwaheb MAASH; LaborUnion Commissions, leader NA

International organization participation ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA,FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone : [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Marc C. GINSBERG
embassy : 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 003, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (7) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (7) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag description red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon'sseal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam

NOTE: The information regarding Morocco on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Morocco Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Morocco Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.