Government

Before U.S. and British led forces toppled the government in 2003 and implemented a transitional government, Iraq was officially a republic. However, according to the provisional constitution of 1970, actual power was given to the Revolutionary Command Council, whose chairman was president of Iraq. There was also a council of ministers, headed by a prime minister, and an elected legislature called the National Assembly.

Under the Iraqi Interim Government, which assumed power in 2004, a transitional national assembly was elected to draft a new constitution for the country.

The Iraqi Constitution of 2005, which was approved in a referendum, pronounced the country a federal republic, with a legislature, called the Council of Representatives, having 275 elected members serving 4-year terms. The political party having the largest share of seats would nominate the prime minister, the head of government, who would need the approval of the council before assuming power, and could hold his seat for 4 years. The council was also responsible for the election of the president and two deputy presidents. The president may serve a maximum of two terms, each of 4 years each.

Local government is made up of 18 provinces called governorates. The Constitution of Iraq further provides for a Kurdistan Regional Government that is meant to look after the Kurdish areas in northern Iraq.