Lesotho
Landlocked country in southern Africa, an enclave within South Africa.
Government
Lesotho is an independent hereditary monarchy within the Commonwealth.
Its 1966 constitution was suspended 1970 and a new constitution adopted
1993, under which a parliamentary system operates. It provides for a
non-executive monarch as head of state and a bicameral legislature consisting
of a 45-member national assembly, elected by universal suffrage for
a five-year term, and a senate, comprising traditional chiefs and eight
nominated members. The king appoints the prime minister on the basis
of assembly support. The assembly may be dissolved if the party or parties
in power loses its support. A college of chiefs has the traditional
role of electing or removing the king by majority vote.
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