Government

Government

Under Mongolia’s 1960 constitution, the supreme organ of state power was the People’s Great Hural (Khural), a 430-member assembly that usually met twice a year. The Communist party, called the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP), was the sole legal party until 1990, when the constitution was amended to allow opposition parties, institute a presidential system of government, and add a 53-member standing legislature, the Small Hural. In January 1992 a new constitution was adopted. By this constitution, the legislative power of the republic resides in a single-chamber legislature, the 76-member Great Hural, whose members are chosen for four-year terms through direct, free elections. The president is head of state and is also directly elected to a four-year term. Voting is universal beginning at age 18.

Judiciary

The Supreme Court is Mongolia’s highest court. Lower courts include the Ulaanbaatar City Court, provincial courts, and local district courts. Judges are elected by assemblies at each political level.

Local Government

Mongolia is divided into 21 provinces, which are subdivided into districts, and the municipality of Ulaanbaatar. Local governments consist of hurals (assemblies) of representatives who are directly elected to four-year terms.

Defense

Twelve months of military service is compulsory for all men aged 18 to 28. In 2004 the army had about 7,500 soldiers and the air defense forces had about 800 personnel. In addition there were about 5,900 border guards and internal troops, which are separate from the armed forces.