Official name

State of Qatar

Form of state

Emirate

Legal system

The 2005 constitution provides for an independent judiciary that should be answerable to "no power but the law". Judges may only be dismissed "in cases to be defined by law"

Legislature

Qatar's current Advisory Council was established in 1972, and is wholly appointed. It can issue advice on policy matters, but has no formal legislative role. The 2005 constitution makes provision for a two-thirds-elected, 45-member parliament to be formed, which will have the power to draw up laws and question ministers. However, the parliamentary election has been repeatedly delayed, and the inauguration of the new body is not expected within the forecast period

Head of state

The emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, succeeded to the throne in June 1995. In October 1996 he appointed as his heir his third son, Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad al-Thani. However, in August 2003 Sheikh Jassem unexpectedly resigned as crown prince and was replaced by his younger brother, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani

Executive

The cabinet is headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the emir. In April 2007 the first deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister, Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani, replaced Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani as prime minister

Main political parties

Political parties are not permitted

Government

Prime minister & foreign affairs: Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani

Deputy prime minister: Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah

Key ministers

Business & trade: Jassem bin Abdulaziz al-Thani

Defence: Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani

Education: Saad bin Ibrahim al-Mahmoud

Energy & industry: Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada

Endowments & Islamic affairs: Ghaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari

Environment: Abdullah bin Mubarak al-Midhadhi

Finance & economy: Youssef Hussein Kamal

Interior: Abdullah bin Khaled al-Thani

Justice: Hassan Abdullah al-Ghanem

Labour: Sultan bin Hassan al-Dhabit al-Dawsari

Municipal affairs & urban planning: Abdel-Rahman bin Khalifa al-Thani

Public health: Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani

Social affairs: Nasser bin Abdullah al-Hemaidi

Key ministers of state

Cabinet affairs: Nasser bin Mohammed al-Thani

Emiri diwan: Abdel-Rahman bin Saud al-Thani

Foreign affairs: Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud

Interior: Abdullah bin Nasser al-Thani

Central Bank governor

Abdullah bin Saud bin Abdel-Aziz al-Thani