Description of government structure:

•Chief of State: President KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan *

•Head of Government: Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Rashid al-Maktum

•Assembly: United Arab Emirates has a unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani) with 40 seats.

* The president is elected by indirect vote by and from the Federal Supreme Council (FSC), which is composed of the seven emirate rulers, to serve 5-year terms. There are no term limits for the president.

Description of electoral system:

•The President is appointed by hereditary state rulers.

•The Prime Minister is appointed head of government.

•In the Federal National Council (Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani), 20 members are appointed to serve 2-year terms and 20 members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve 2-year terms.***

*** 20 members are appointed by the rulers of the constituent emirates and 20 members are elected by indirect vote through local councils. All members serve 2-year terms.

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