GOVERNMENT
Morocco is divided into 16 administrative regions (further broken into provinces and prefectures); the regions are administered by Walis (governors) appointed by the King.
The Moroccan Constitution provides for a monarchy with a Parliament and an independent judiciary. Ultimate authority rests with the King. He presides over the Council of Ministers; appoints the prime minister following legislative elections; appoints all members of the government taking into account the prime minister's recommendations; and may, at his discretion, terminate the tenure of any minister, dissolve the Parliament, call for new elections, or rule by decree. The King is the head of the military and the country's religious leader.
Since
the constitutional reform of 1996, the bicameral legislature consists
of a lower chamber - the Chamber of Representatives - which is
directly elected; and an upper chamber - the Chamber of Counselors
- whose members are indirectly elected through various regional,
local, and professional councils. The councils' members themselves
are elected directly. The Parliament's powers, though limited,
were expanded under the 1992 and 1996 constitutional revisions
and include budgetary matters, approving bills, questioning ministers,
and establishing ad hoc commissions of inquiry to investigate
the government's actions. The lower chamber of Parliament may
dissolve the government through a vote of no confidence.
The last parliamentary elections were held in November 2002 and were considered largely free, fair, and transparent. At that time, King Mohammed VI formed a government appointing then Interior Minister Driss Jettou as Prime Minister. Cabinet level positions were drawn from most major parties in the coalition.
Following the 2002 elections, King Mohammed VI highlighted several goals toward which the new government should work: gainful employment, economic development, meaningful education, and increased housing availability. To meet the King’s objectives, the Jettou government embarked on a series of initiatives and reforms, which he laid out in his early days as Prime Minister.
Jettou emphasized that first and foremost, modernization and revitalization of the country’s infrastructure (roads, trains, communications, water, etc.) and national economy (support for Moroccan businesses, preparations for competition, modernization of modes of production, etc.), were necessary towards development progress in Morocco.
In order to create employment opportunities, the government is promoting investment in the tourism, industrial, fishing, and service industries, and is ameliorating, restructuring, and modernizing the education system.
Parliamentary elections were held in September 2007. Abbas El Fassi was designated to form a new government.
Principal
Government Officials
Head of State--King Mohammed VI
Prime Minister--Driss Jettou
Morocco
maintains an embassy in the United States at 1601 - 21st Street
NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel. 202-462-7979).
Government Type: Constitutional monarchy.
Constitution: March 1972, revised September 1992 and September
1996 (creating a bicameral legislature).
Independence: March 2, 1956.
Branches: Executive--king (head of state), prime minister
(head of government). Legislative--Bicameral parliament. Judicial--Supreme
Court.
Political parties: Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP),
Istiqlal (independence) Party (PI), Popular Movement (MP), National
Popular Movement (MNP), National Rally of Independents (RNI),
Constitutional Union Party (UC), National Democratic Party (PND),
Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Organization for Democratic
and Popular Action (OADP), Party of Justice and Development (PJD),
Democratic and Social Movement (MDS), Democratic Forces Front
(FFD), Democratic Union (UD), Citizen Forces (FC), Liberal Party
(PL), National Socialist Congress Party (CNI), Party of Reform
and Development (PRD) Social Democratic Party (PSD), National
Union of Popular Forces (UNFP), Action Party (PA), Avant-Garde
Democratic Socialist Party (PADS).
Suffrage: Universal starting at 21 years of age.
