11/25/06: Bahrain Parliamentary Elections (Click here for the latest news)

• Population (July 2006): 698,585
• Literacy: 89.1% (total population)
• Government Type: Constitutional Hereditary Monarchy
• Suffrage: Universal (18 years of age)
  

• Executive Branch: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (Chief of State), Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa (Prime Minister)
  
  
• Legislative Branch: Bi-Cameral Parliament
  
  Shura Council: (40 members appointed by the King)
  House of Deputies: (40 members directly elected to serve four-year terms)
  
  
• Electoral System:
  Executive non-elected: The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
  Legislative: House of Deputies directly elected
  
  
• Political Parties:
  Political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law

Information Provided By : CIA World Fact Book, Bahrain