The Gambia
Country in W Africa, bounded north, east, and south by Senegal and
west by the Atlantic Ocean.
Government
The Gambia is an independent republic within the Commonwealth. Its
constitution dates from 1970 and provides for a single-chamber legislature,
the house of representatives, consisting of 50 members, 36 directly
elected by universal suffrage, five elected by the chiefs, eight non-voting
nominated members, and the attorney general, ex officio. It serves a
five-year term, as does the president, who is elected by direct universal
suffrage and appoints a vice president (who also leads the house of
representatives) and a cabinet. Following an army coup, a military council
was established to oversee the government 1994-96. A civilian constitution
was readopted 1996.
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