Long-form name: Czechoslovak Socialist Republic; abbreviated CSSR; note--on 23 March 1990 the name was changed to Czechoslovak Federative Republic; because of Slovak concerns about their status in the Federation, the Federal Assembly approved the name Czech and Slovak Federative Republic on 20 April 1990

Type: in transition from Communist state to republic

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; new constitution under review (1 January 1990)

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)

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Federalni Shromazdeni) consists of an upper house or House of Nations (Snemovna Narodu) and a lower house or House of the People (Snemovna Lidu)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders: Chief of State--President Vaclav HAVEL (since 28 December 1989); Head of Government--Premier Marian CALFA (since 10 December 1989); First Deputy Premier Valtr KOMAREK (since 7 December 1989); Jan CARNOGURSKY (since 7 December 1989)

Political parties and leaders: Civic Forum, since December 1989 leading political force, loose coalition of former oppositionists headed by President Vaclav Havel; Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC), Ladislav Adamec, chairman (since 20 December 1989); KSC toppled from power in November 1989 by massive antiregime demonstrations, minority role in coalition government since 10 December 1989

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections: President--last held 22 May 1985 (next to be held 8 June 1990; will be a free election); results--Gustav Husak was reelected without opposition; Federal Assembly--last held 23 and 24 May 1986 (next to be held 8 June 1990; will be a free election); results--KSC was the only party; seats--(350 total) KSC 350

Communists: 1.71 million party members (April 1988) and falling

Other political groups: Czechoslovak Socialist Party, Czechoslovak People's Party, Slovak Freedom Party, Slovak Revival Party, Christian Democratic Party; more than 40 political groups are expected to field candidates for the 8 June 1990 election

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

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Rita KLIMOVA; Chancery at 3900 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 363-6315 or 6316; US--Ambassador Shirley Temple BLACK; Embassy at Trziste 15-12548, Prague (mailing address is APO New York 09213); telephone p42o (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 1990 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Czechoslovakia Government 1990 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Czechoslovakia Government 1990 should be addressed to the CIA.