Liberia - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Liberia, it was name derives from the Latin word "liber" meaning "free"; so named because the nation was created as a homeland for liberated African-American slaves. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
National symbols
White star; national colors: red, white, blue.
The flag
The National flag of Liberia has 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a white, five-pointed star appears on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the stripes symbolize the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence; the blue square represents the African mainland, and the star represents the freedom granted to the ex-slaves; according to the constitution, the blue color signifies liberty, justice, and fidelity, the white color purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness, and the red color steadfastness, valor, and fervor.
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note: the design is based on the US flag
The National Anthem
| Title | "All Hail, Liberia Hail!" |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA |
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note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia
More about the government of Liberia
| Date of Independence | 26 July 1847 |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 26 July (1847) |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of common law, based on Anglo-American law, and customary law |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986 |
| Amendments | Proposed by agreement of at least two thirds of both National Assembly houses or by petition of at least 10,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval of both houses and approval in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of registered voters; amended 2011, 2020 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 2 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024) |
| Head of government | President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 October 2023 with a runoff on 14 November 2023 (next to be held in October 2029) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government |
| Election results | 2023: Joseph BOAKAI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (CDC) 43.8%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 43.4%, Edward APPLETON (GDM) 2.2%, Lusinee KAMARA (ALCOP) 2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS, Jr. (CPP) 1.6%, Tiawan Saye GONGLOE (LPP) 1.4%, other 5.6%; percentage of vote in second round - Joseph BOAKAI 50.6%, George WEAH 49.4% 2017: George WEAH elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (Coalition for Democratic Change) 38.4%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 28.8%, Charles BRUMSKINE (LP) 9.6%, Prince JOHNSON (MDR) 8.2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS (ANC) 7.2%, other 7.8%; percentage of vote in second round - George WEAH 61.5%, Joseph BOAKAI 38.5% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Bicameral National Assembly consists of: The Liberian Senate (30 seats; members directly elected in 15 2-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 9-year staggered terms; each district elects 1 senator and elects the second senator 3 years later, followed by a 6-year hiatus, after which the first Senate seat is up for election) House of Representatives (73 seats; members directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms; eligible for a second term) |
| Elections | Senate - general election held on 10 October 2023 with half the seats up for election (next to be held in October 2029) House of Representatives - last held on 10 October 2023 (next to be held in October 2029)
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| Election results | Senate - percent of vote by party/coalition - CDC 34.3%, UP 12.0%, MDR 7.1%, LRP 1.5%, independent 24.3%; seats by party/coalition - CDC 6, UP 1, MDR 1, LRP 1, independent 6; composition- men 27, women 3, percentage women 10% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - CDC 22.1%, UP 13.1%, CPP 7.6%, MDR 2.8%, PUP 4.3%, ALP 2.5%, LINU 2.3%, MPC 1.0%, NDC 1.0%, VOLT 0.8%, LRP 0.8%, Independent 25.7%; seats by party/coalition - CDC 25, UP 11, CPP 6, MDR 4, PUP 2, ALP 1, LINU 1, MPC 1, NDC 1, VOLT 1 LRP 1, independent 19; composition- men 65, women 8, percentage women 11%; total Parliament percentage women 10.6% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 4 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction for all constitutional cases |
| Judge selection and term of office | Chief justice and associate justices appointed by the president of Liberia with consent of the Senate; judges can serve until age 70 |
| Subordinate courts | Judicial circuit courts; special courts, including criminal, civil, labor, traffic; magistrate and traditional or customary courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Jeff Gongoer DOWANA, Sr. (since 12 December 2022) |
| Chancery | 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 723-0437 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 723-0436 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] http://www.liberianembassyus.org/ |
| Consulate(s) general | New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant) Chargé d'Affaires Catherine RODRIGUEZ (since 11 August 2023) |
| Embassy | 502 Benson Street, Monrovia |
| Mailing address | 8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20521-8800 |
| Telephone | [231] 77-677-7000 |
| FAX | [231] 77-677-7370 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://lr.usembassy.gov/ |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Liberia
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Liberia
Want to know more about Liberia? Check all different factbooks for Liberia below.
