GOVERNMENT
Until 1990, the Mongolian Government was modeled on the Soviet system; only the communist party--the MPRP--officially was permitted to function. After some instability during the first two decades of communist rule in Mongolia, there was no significant popular unrest until December 1989. Collectivization of animal husbandry, introduction of agriculture, and the extension of fixed abodes were all carried out without perceptible popular opposition.
The birth of perestroika in the former Soviet Union and the democracy movement
in Eastern Europe were mirrored in Mongolia. The dramatic shift toward reform
started in early 1990 when the first organized opposition group, the Mongolian
Democratic Union, appeared. In the face of extended street protests in subzero
weather and popular demands for faster reform, the politburo of the MPRP
resigned in March 1990. In May, the constitution was amended, deleting reference
to the MPRP's role as the guiding force in the country, legalizing opposition
parties, creating a standing legislative body, and establishing the office of
president.
Mongolia's first multi-party elections for a People's Great Hural were held on
July 29, 1990. The MPRP won 85% of the seats. The People's Great Hural first met
on September 3 and elected a president (MPRP), vice president (SDP--Social
Democrats), prime minister (MPRP), and 50 members to the Baga Hural (small
Hural). The vice president also was chairman of the Baga Hural. In November
1991, the People's Great Hural began discussion on a new constitution, which
entered into force February 12. In addition to establishing Mongolia as an
independent, sovereign republic and guaranteeing a number of rights and
freedoms, the new constitution restructured the legislative branch of
government, creating a unicameral legislature, the State Great Hural (SGH).
The 1992 constitution provided that the president would be elected by popular
vote rather than by the legislature as before. In June 1993, incumbent
Punsalmaagiyn Ochirbat won the first popular presidential election running as
the candidate of the democratic opposition.
As the supreme government organ, the SGH is empowered to enact and amend laws,
determine domestic and foreign policy, ratify international agreements, and
declare a state of emergency. The SGH meets semiannually for 3-4 month sessions.
SGH members elect a chairman and vice chairman who serve 4-year terms. SGH
members are popularly elected by district for 4-year terms.
The president is the head of state, commander in chief of the armed forces, and
head of the National Security Council. He is popularly elected by a national
majority for a 4-year term and limited to two terms. The constitution empowers
the president to propose a prime minister, call for the government's dissolution
in consultation with the SGH chairman, initiate legislation, veto all or parts
of legislation (the SGH can override the veto with a two-thirds majority), and
issue decrees, which become effective with the prime minister's signature. In
the absence, incapacity, or resignation of the president, the SGH chairman
exercises presidential power until inauguration of a newly elected president.
The government, headed by the prime minister, has a 4-year term. The prime
minister is nominated by the president and confirmed by the SGH. Under
constitutional changes made in 2001, the president is required to nominate the
prime ministerial candidate proposed by a party or coalition with a majority of
members of the SGH. The prime minister chooses a cabinet, subject to SGH
approval. Dissolution of the government occurs upon the prime minister's
resignation, simultaneous resignation of half the cabinet, or after an SGH vote
for dissolution.
Local hurals are elected by the 21 aimags (provinces) plus the capital, Ulaanbaatar. On the next lower administrative level, they are elected by provincial subdivisions and urban subdistricts in Ulaanbaatar and all aimags.
Political
Parties
Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
Democratic Party
Motherland-Mongolian Democratic New Socialist Party
National New Party
Civil Will Party
Mongolian People's Party
Mongolian Green Party
Mongolian Traditional United Party
Mongolian National Solidarity Party
Mongolian Liberal Democratic Party
Mongolian Republican Party
Mongolian Women's National United Party
Mongolian Liberal Party
Mongolian Social Democratic Party
Freedom Implementing Party
The Civil Movement Party
The Development Program Party
Mongolian Democratic Development Party
Legal System
The 1992 constitution empowered a General Council of Courts (GCC) to select all judges and protect their rights. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body. Justices are nominated by the GCC and confirmed by the SGH 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.
Specialized civil, criminal, and administrative courts exist at all levels and are not subject to Supreme Court supervision. Local authorities--district and city governors--ensure that these courts abide by presidential decrees and SGH decisions. At the apex of the judicial system is the Constitutional Court, which consists of nine members, including a chairman, appointed for 6-year terms, whose jurisdiction extends solely over the interpretation of the constitution.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Nambaryn Enkhbayar
Prime Minister--Sanjaagiin Bayar
Mongolia
maintains an embassy
in the United States at 2833 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20007;
tel. (202) 333-7117, fax (202) 298-9227.
Type: Multiparty parliamentary form of government.
Independence: gained in 1921; in 1990, democratic reform begun and shift from dependence on the former Soviet Union declared.
Constitutions: 1960 and February 12, 1992.
Branches: Executive--power is divided between a president (elected by a popular election in May 2005) and prime minister (current cabinet nominated by the prime minister was approved in December 2007 by the State Great Hural elected in June 2004). Legislative--State Great Hural (76 deputies). Judicial--Constitutional Court is empowered to supervise the implementation of the constitution, makes judgment on the violation of its provisions, and solves disputes. Legal code based on Continental and Russian law. Legal education at Mongolian State University and private universities. Mongolia accepts International Court of Justice jurisdiction.
Political parties: 18 registered political parties.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Administrative subdivisions: 21 aimags (provinces) and one city (Ulaanbaatar).
