The Government of Iraq - The World Countries

Iraq - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Iraq, it was the name probably derives from "Uruk" (Biblical "Erech"), the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian city on the Euphrates River. The Government system in this country is the federal parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah (Arabic); parezgakan, singular - parezga (Kurdish)); 'Al Anbar; Al Basrah; Al Muthanna; Al Qadisiyah (Ad Diwaniyah); An Najaf; Arbil (Erbil) (Arabic), Hewler (Kurdish); As Sulaymaniyah (Arabic), Slemani (Kurdish); Babil; Baghdad; Dahuk (Arabic), Dihok (Kurdish); Dhi Qar; Diyala; Karbala'; Kirkuk; Maysan; Ninawa; Salah ad Din; Wasit

National symbols

Golden eagle; national colors: red, white, black.

The flag

The National flag of Iraq has three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise replacement for the Ba'thist SADDAM-era flag.

note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script; Yemen, which has a plain white band; and that of Egypt, which has a golden Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band

The National Anthem

Title	"Mawtini" (My Homeland)
Lyric/music	Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL

note: adopted 2004; following the ouster of SADDAM Husayn, Iraq adopted "Mawtini," a popular folk song throughout the Arab world; also serves as an unofficial anthem of the Palestinian people

More about the government of Iraq

Constitution
Date of Independence	3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government
National holiday	Independence Day, 3 October (1932); Republic Day, 14 July (1958)
Legal system	mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
History	Several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005
Amendment process	Proposed by the president of the republic and the Council of Minsters collectively, or by one fifth of the Council of Representatives members; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Council of Representatives, approval by referendum, and ratification by the president; passage of amendments to articles on citizen rights and liberties requires two-thirds majority vote of Council of Representatives members after two successive electoral terms, approval in a referendum, and ratification by the president
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	at least one parent must be a citizen of Iraq
Dual citizenship recognized	yes
Residency requirement for naturalization	10 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Latif RASHID (since 13 October 2022)
Head of government	Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-SUDANI (since 27 October 2022)
Cabinet	Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, approved by Council of Representatives (COR)
Elections/appointments	president indirectly elected by COR to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); COR parliamentary election for president last held on 13 October 2022 (next to be held NA)
Election results	2022: Latif RASHID elected president in second round; COR vote in first round - Latif RASHID (PUK) 157, Barham SALIH (PUK) 99; COR vote in second round - Latif RASHID 167, Barham SALIH 99; Mohammed Shia' al-SUDANI approved as prime minister 2018: Barham SALIH elected president in second round; COR vote in first round - Barham SALIH (PUK) 165, Fuad HUSAYN (KDP) 90; COR vote in second round - Barham SALIH 219, Fuad HUSAYN 22; Adil ABD AL-MAHDI approved as prime minister
Legislative branch
Legislature name	Council of Representatives of Iraq
Legislative structure	Unicameral
Number of seats	329 (all directly elected)
Electoral system	Other systems
Scope of elections	Full renewal
Term in office	4 years
Most recent election date	10/10/2021
Parties elected and seats per party	Sadrist Bloc (73); National Progress Alliance / Taqadum (37); State of Law Coalition (33); Kurdistan Democratic Party (31); Fatah Alliance (17); Kurdistan Alliance (17); Independents (43); Other (78)
Percentage of women in chamber	28.9%
Expected date of next election	October 2025
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
Judge selection and term of office	Federal Supreme Court (FSC) judges nominated by the High Judicial Council (HJC) president, the FSC chief justice, the public prosecutor's office chief, and the head of the Judicial Oversight Commission; FSC members required to retire at age 72; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement, nominally at age 63, but can be extended to age 66
Subordinate courts	Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Nazar Issa Abdulhadi AL-KHIRULLAH (since 30 June 2023)
Chancery	1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Telephone	[1] (202) 483-7500
FAX	[1] (202) 462-8815
Email address and website	[email protected] https://www.iraqiembassy.us/
Consulate(s) general	Detroit, Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Daniel Rubinstein (since 28 January 2025)
Embassy	Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad; note - consulate in Al Basrah closed as of 28 September 2018
Mailing address	6060 Baghdad Place, Washington DC 20521-6060
Telephone	0760-030-3000
Email address and website	[email protected] https://iq.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	6 (5 cultural, 1 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (c); Babylon (c); Erbil Citadel (c); Hatra (c); Samarra Archaeological City (c); The Ahwar (Marshland) of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities (m)