Lebanon
Country in West Asia, bounded North and East by Syria, South by Israel,
and West by the Mediterranean Sea.
Government
Under the 1926 constitution, amended in 1927, 1929, 1943, 1947, and
1990, legislative power is held by the national assembly, whose
128 members (half of whom are Christians, and half Muslims) are
elected by universal adult suffrage, through a party list system
of proportional representation. The assembly serves a four-year
term. The president is elected by the assembly for a six-year
term and appoints a prime minister and cabinet who are collectively
responsible to the assembly. Under the 1943 amended constitution
the president is Christian, the prime minister is Sunni Muslim,
and the speaker of the national assembly is Shi'ite Muslim. The
1990 amendment reflects the Muslim majority that has emerged since
1947. The powers of the president have been much diminished, although
the post is still reserved for a Maronite Christian.
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