Official name

Kingdom of Bhutan

Form of state

Constitutional monarchy. Legislative power lies with the National Assembly (the lower house of parliament), while executive power is vested in the cabinet, led by the prime minister. The constitution, which was initiated in draft form by the king in 2003, was published in 2005 and formally adopted by parliament in July 2008

National elections

Parliament comprises the 47-member National Assembly and a 25-member National Council (the upper house). Of the seats in the upper house, 20 are elected and the remainder are appointed by the king. An election for the upper house in December 2007 filled 15 of the 25 seats; five more members of the chamber were elected in January 2008, and five were appointed by the king in March of that year. A lower house election was held in the same month

National government

The king is head of state but can be required to abdicate by a two-thirds vote in the National Assembly. The ten-member cabinet was chosen in April 2008

Main political organisations

Druk Phuensum Tshogpa; People's Democratic Party

Head of state (dragon king): Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck

Prime minister: Jigme Thinley

Key ministers

Agriculture: Pema Gyamtsho

Economic affairs: Khandu Wangchuk

Education: Thakur Singh Powdyel

Finance: Wangdi Norbu

Foreign affairs: Ugyen Tshering

Health: Zangley Dukpa

Home & cultural affairs: Minjur Dorji

Information & communications: Nandalal Rai

Labour & human resources: Dorji Wangdi

Works & human settlement: Yeshey Zimba

Speaker of the National Assembly

Jigme Tshultim

Chief justice

Sonan Tobgye

Central bank chairman

Wangdi Norbu