Capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administration directly from Valletta)

Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Representatives: elections last held on 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February 1997); results - NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats - (usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total 69 (MLP 33, NP 36 after adjustment)

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred SANT
Member of: C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Albert BORG OLIVIER DE PUGET
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 462-3611 or 3612
FAX: (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William A. MOFFITT (new ambassador nominated, but not confirmed)
embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
telephone: [356] 235960
FAX: [356] 243229

Flag: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red

NOTE: The information regarding Malta on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Malta Government 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Malta Government 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.