Constitution of Guyana

Status: Republic with executive President

Legislature: Parliament of Guyana

Independence: 26 May 1966

Guyana is a republic, divided into administrative regions, with an executive president and parliamentary legislature. The 1980 constitution, amended in 2001, provides for an executive presidency and a unicameral legislature, the National Assembly, with 65 members directly elected by proportional representation: 40 at a national level and 25 at a regional level. The normal life of parliament is five years.

The leader of the majority party in the Assembly is president for the duration of the Assembly. The president appoints the prime minister and cabinet (which may include those from outside the Assembly), which is responsible to parliament.