Mongolia is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic with a pluriform multi-party system. The 1992 constitution provided that the president would be elected directly by the Mongolian public for a four year term, with a limit of two terms. Candidates must be nominated by one of the parties represented in the State Great Hural, Mongolia’s unicameral legislature. Before inauguration, however, the President-elect has to renounce the membership of any political party. The presidents duties include nominating a candidate for Prime Minister, approving judicial appointments, acting as commander in chief of the armed forces, and he has the power to veto legislation, although this can be overridden by a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
The Mongolian legislative consists of one Chamber, which has 76 members, each of which represents his or her own district. The election is only valid if 50% of the electorate vote. Mongolian citizens are allowed to vote from the age of 18 if they live in Mongolia. They may be elected to office at the age of 25.
The new constitution empowered a General Council of Courts to select all judges and protect their rights. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body. Justices are nominated by the Council of Courts and confirmed by the legislature and president. The court is constitutionally empowered to examine all lower court decisions–excluding specialized court rulings–upon appeal and provide official interpretations on all laws except the constitution.
Since the turn towards democracy in 1990, Mongolia has in principle acknowledged the concept of human and civic rights. However, certain problems remain, especially within the police and security sector. UN torture rapporteurs have critized Mongolia’s prisons, and especially the conditions surrounding the death penalty, as cruel and inhuman.[1]
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolia
27 June and 17 July 2004 Mongolian Parliamentary Elections
| Party | % | Seats |
| Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party | 46.5 | 37 |
| Motherland Democracy Coalition | 44.7 | 34 |
| Republican Party | 1.5 | 1 |
| Non-partisans | 3.6 | 3 |
| Undecided (claimed by Motherland Democracy Coalition) | n/a | 1 |
Facts and Figures:
| Population | 2,951,786 (July 2007 est.) |
| Ethnic groups
|
Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000) |
| Religions
|
Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40% (2004) |
| Capital | Ulaanbaatar |
| Languages | Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999) |
| GDP (PPP) | $5.852 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $2,100 (2006 est.) |
| Exports
|
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals |
| Imports
|
machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea |
| Unemployment | 3.3% (2005) |
| Population below poverty line | 36.1% (2004) |
Source: CIA World Factbook
