Government In Afghanistan

Background:
On Sept. 27, 1996, the ruling members of the Afghan government were displaced by
members of the Islamic Taliban movement, who have declared themselves the legitimate
government of Afghanistan. The UN has deferred a decision on the question of legitimacy.
Mullah Mohammed Omar, known as the Emir al-Momineen (Leader of the Faithful), has
served as the de facto leader since the Taliban came to power in 1996.
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is divided into 34 provinces. The president is head of
state and head of government. Legislative power is vested in the bicameral National
Assembly.
President:
Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is the current President of Afghanistan, elected on 21
September 2014. An anthropologist by education, he previously served as Finance
Minister and the chancellor of Kabul University.
The Constitution of Afghanistan grants the president wide powers over military and
legislative affairs, with a relatively weak national bicameral national assembly, the Wolesi
Jirga (House of the People) and Meshrano Jirga (House of Elders). The Presidents can only
serve up to two five-year terms.

Parliament:
The National Assembly, as envisaged in the Constitution, consists of two houses: the
Wolesi Jirga (the House of the People) and the Meshrano Jirga (the House of Elders).
The Wolesi Jirga has 249 seats with members directly elected by the people. Sixty-eight
women were elected to the seats reserved under the Constitution, while 17 of them have
been elected in their own rights. Each province was given proportionate representation in
the Wolesi Jirga according to its population. Each member of the Wolesi Jirga will enjoy a
five year term.
The Meshrano Jirga consists of a mixture of appointed and elected members (total 102
members). Sixty-eight members were selected by 34 directly elected Provincial Councils,
and 34 were appointed by the President. President Karzais appointments were vetted by
an independent UN sponsored election board and included 17 women (50 %), as required
by the Constitution.
The Court System:
First - Supreme Court: Civil, commercial, general criminal, public and military crimes and
crimes against public security and interest divisions.
Second - Appeal Courts: In the center of each province there is an appeal court which has
the following divisions:
General Criminal Division, Public Security Division, Civil and Personal Affairs Division,
Public Rights Division, Commercial Division
Third Primary Courts: Includes all city primary courts in the center of provinces and
district courts in the center of districts.