GOVERNMENT
Monaco has been governed as a constitutional monarchy since 1911, with the Prince as chief of state. The executive branch consists of a Minister of State (head of government), who presides over a five-member Council of Government (cabinet). The Minister of State, who is a French citizen appointed by the Prince for a 3-year term from among several senior French civil servants proposed by the French Government, is responsible for foreign relations. As the Prince's representative, the Minister of State also directs the executive services, commands the police, and presides (with voting powers) over the Council of Government. The five members of the Council are respectively responsible for internal affairs, external affairs, the environment, finance and economy, and social affairs and health.
Under the 1962 constitution, the Prince shares his power with the unicameral National Council. Sixteen of the 24 members of this legislative body are elected by list majority system, and 8 by proportional representation to serve 5-year terms. The elections were last held in February 2008. If the Prince dissolves the National Council, new elections must be held within 3 months. Usually meeting twice annually, the Council votes on the budget and endorses laws proposed by the Prince.
Ordinances
passed by the National Council are debated in the Council of Government,
as are the ministerial decrees signed by the Minister of State.
Once approved, the ordinances must be submitted to the Prince
within 80 days for his signature, which makes them legally enforceable.
If he does not express opposition within 10 days of submission,
they become valid.
Judicial
power is invested in the Prince, who delegates judicial procedures
to the various courts, which dispense justice in his name. The
independence of the judges is guaranteed by the constitution.
The Supreme Court is composed of five chief members and two assistant
judges named by the Prince on the basis of nominations by the
National Council and other government bodies. The Supreme Court
is the highest court for judicial appeals and also interprets
the constitution when necessary. Monaco's legal system, closely
related to that of France, is patterned after the Napoleonic Code.
The principality's
local affairs (the administration of the four quarters of Monaco-Ville,
La Condamine, Monte Carlo, and Fontvieille) are directed by the
Communal Council, which consists of 15 elected members and is
presided over by the Mayor.
Principal
Government Officials
Chief of State--Prince Albert II, Crown Prince
Minister of State--Jean-Paul Proust
Ambassador to the United States and United Nations--Gilles Noghes
Council
of Government
Interior--Paul Masseron
Exterior--Franck Bianchieri
Finance and Economic Affairs--Gilles Tonelli
Social Affairs and Health--Jean-Jacques Campana
Environment, Equipment and Urbanism--Robert Calcagno
Type: Constitutional monarchy.
Constitution: December 17, 1962 (amended in April 2002).
Branches: Executive--Prince Albert II (chief of state), Minister of State Jean-Paul Proust (head of government), Council of Government (cabinet under authority of the monarch). Legislative--unicameral National Council (24 members). Judicial--Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal, High Court of Appeal, Criminal Court, Supreme Court.
Subdivisions: Four quarters (quartiers)--Monaco-Ville, La Condamine, Monte-Carlo, Fontvieille.
Political parties: Union pour Monaco (UPM), Rassemblement et Enjeux (REM), Parti Monégasque (PM).
Suffrage: Universal adult at age 18.
