Government

Taiwan is governed under the constitution of the Republic of China, which was adopted in 1947 for all of China. It was extensively amended in 1972 and 1994.

The president (head of state) and vice president are popularly elected for four-year terms. The president names the premier (head of government) and the Executive Yuan, or cabinet. The Legislative Yuan, whose members are elected to three-year terms, is the lawmaking body. The National Assembly, whose members are popularly elected for four-year terms, formerly was the body that chose the president and vice president; it continues to exist under the constitution as amended in 1994, with the power to remove the president from office and to amend the constitution.