Legal System and Branches
The legal system is civil law system that is similar in form to the French system.
Executive Branch:
Chief of State; President: Bounnyang Vorachit; Vice President: Phankham Viphavan.
Head of Government; Prime Minister: Thongloun Sisoulit; Deputy Prime Ministers: Bounthong Chitmani, Sonxai Siphandon, Somdi Douangdi.
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly.
Elections/Appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for 5-year term.
Legislative Branch:
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (149 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote from candidate lists provided by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021)
Election Results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 144, independent 5; composition - men 108, women 41, percent of women 27.5%
Judicial Branch:
Highest Courts: People's Supreme Court (consists of the court president and organized into criminal, civil, administrative, commercial, family, and juvenile chambers, each with a vice president and several judges)
Judge Selection and Term of Office: president of People's Supreme Court appointed by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president of the republic for a 5-year term; vice presidents of the People's Supreme Court appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the National Assembly; appointment of chamber judges NA; tenure of court vice presidents and chamber judges NA
Subordinate Courts: appellate courts; provincial, municipal, district, and military courts
Percent of Women in Government: 27.5%