Long-form name: Czechoslovak Socialist Republic; abbreviated CSSR

Type: Communist state

Capital: Prague

Administrative divisions: 2 socialist republics (socialisticke republiky, singular--socialisticka republika); Ceska Socialisticka Republika, Slovenska Socialisticka Republika

Independence: 18 October 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)

Constitution: 11 July 1960; amended in 1968 and 1970

Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes, modified by Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Holiday of the Republic (Anniversary of the Liberation), 9 May (1945)

Branches: executive--president (elected by Federal Assembly), Cabinet (appointed by president); legislative (Federal Assembly; elected directly--Chamber of Nations, Chamber of the People), Czech and Slovak National Councils (also elected directly) legislate on limited area of regional matters; judiciary, Supreme Court (elected by Federal Assembly); entire governmental structure dominated by Communist Party

Leaders: @m5Chief of State--President Gustav HUSAK (since 29 May 1975); @m5Head of Government--Prime Minister Ladislav ADAMEC (since NA October 1988)

Suffrage: universal over age 18

Elections: governmental bodies and president every five years; last election June 1986

Political party and leader: Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC), Milos Jakes, General Secretary (since 17 December 1987); Communist Party of Slovakia (KSS) has status of provincial KSC organization; Committee for Party Work in Czech Republic has de facto provincial party status

Voting strength: (1986 election) 99.96% for Communist-sponsored single slate

Communists: 1.71 million party members (April 1988)

Other political groups: puppet parties--Czechoslovak Socialist Party, Czechoslovak People's Party, Slovak Freedom Party, Slovak Revival Party

Member of: CCC, CEMA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, ICAO, ICO, ILO, ILZSG, IMO, IPU, ISO, ITC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, Warsaw Pact, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Miroslav HOUSTECKY; Chancery at 3900 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 363-6315 or 6316; US--Ambassador Julian M. NIEMCZYK; Embassy at Trziste 15-12548, Prague (mailing address is APO New York 09213); telephone Õ42å (2) 53 6641 through 6649

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

NOTE: The information regarding Czechoslovakia on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Czechoslovakia Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Czechoslovakia Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.