Government and Politics of Morocco

Government Type

constitutional monarchy

Administrative Divisions

37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Sraghna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit; three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara

Legal System

based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Aziz AKHANNOUCH (since 7 October 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections, typically the leader of the party or coalition securing the most seats in parliament

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of Counselors (120 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for six-year terms; half of the members are renewed every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives (395 seats; 305 elected by multi-seat constituencies and 90 from national lists reserved for women and youth; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms). Elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held on 5 October 2021 (next to be held in 2027); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 8 September 2021 (next to be held in 2026). Election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RNI 27, PAM 18, PI 17, USFP 7, MP 6, PPS 5, other 40; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RNI 102, PAM 87, PI 81, USFP 35, MP 28, PPS 22, UCDN 18, MDS 5, other 17.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)

Political Parties

Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiatives for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC [Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI [Abbas El FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine OTHMANI]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI, chairman]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the Unified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Mohammed El-YAZGHI]

Head of State

King MOHAMED VI

Head of Government

Prime Minister Aziz AKHANNOUCH

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

Elections

Chamber of Counselors - last held on 5 October 2021 (next to be held in 2027); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 8 September 2021 (next to be held in 2026).

Election Results

Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RNI 27, PAM 18, PI 17, USFP 7, MP 6, PPS 5, other 40; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RNI 102, PAM 87, PI 81, USFP 35, MP 28, PPS 22, UCDN 18, MDS 5, other 17.

Constitution

10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996

Independence

2 March 1956 (from France)

National Holiday

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

International Organization Participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Capital City

Rabat

Location

34 01 N, 6 49 W

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

name derives from the Arabic title "Ribat el-Fath," meaning "stronghold of victory," applied to the newly constructed citadel in 1170

U.S. Embassy in Rabat 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi (formerly Avenue de Marrakech), Rabat Telephone: (212) (537) 76-22-65, Fax: (212) (537)76-56-61 For emergency services after-hours, please call the Duty Officer cell phone at (212) (661)13-19-39. U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca 8 Boulevard Moulay Youssef, Casablanca Telephone: (212) (522) 26-45-50, Fax number: (212) (522) 20-80-97For emergency services after-hours, please call (212) (661) 13-19-39

Military Branches

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine)

Service Age and Obligation

20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation - 18 months