The Government of Lebanon - CountriesPedia

Lebanon - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Lebanon, it was derives from the Semitic root "lbn" meaning "white" and refers to snow-capped Mount Lebanon. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary democratic republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 8 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Aakkar, Baalbek-Hermel, Beqaa (Bekaa), Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord (North Lebanon), Liban-Sud (South Lebanon), Mont-Liban (Mount Lebanon), Nabatiye

National symbols

Cedar tree; national colors: red, white, green.

The flag

The National flag of Lebanon has three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation, the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity.

The National Anthem

Title	"Kulluna lil-watan" (All Of Us, For Our Country!)
Lyric/music	Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA

note: adopted 1927; chosen following a nationwide competition

More about the government of Lebanon

Constitution
Date of Independence	22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
National holiday	Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Legal system	mixed legal system of civil law based on the French civil code, Ottoman legal tradition, and religious laws covering personal status, marriage, divorce, and other family relations of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian communities
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
History	Drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926
Amendments	Proposed by the president of the republic and introduced as a government bill to the National Assembly or proposed by at least 10 members of the Assembly and agreed upon by two thirds of its members; if proposed by the National Assembly, review and approval by two-thirds majority of the Cabinet is required; if approved, the proposal is next submitted to the Cabinet for drafting as an amendment; Cabinet approval requires at least two-thirds majority, followed by submission to the National Assembly for discussion and vote; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of a required two-thirds quorum of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 2004
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	the father must be a citizen of Lebanon
Dual citizenship recognized	yes
Residency requirement for naturalization	unknown
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Joseph AOUN (since 9 January 2025)
Head of government	Prime Minister Najib MIQATI (since 20 September 2021)
Cabinet	Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and the National Assembly
Elections/appointments	president indirectly elected by a qualified majority of two-thirds of Parliament members in the first round and if needed a two-thirds quorum of members by simple majority popular vote for a 6-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); last held on 9 January 2025 (next to be held in 2031); prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
Election results	2025: Joseph AOUN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - 99 of 128; note - President Michel AWN's term ended 31 October 2022, and the government was in caretaker status until the 9 January National Assembly election of AOUN 2016: Michel AWN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - Michel AWN (FPM) 83; the president elected in its 46th attempt on 31 October 2016
Legislative branch
Legislature name	National Assembly (Majlis Al-Nuwwab)
Legislative structure	Unicameral
Number of seats	128 (all directly elected)
Electoral system	Proportional representation
Scope of elections	Full renewal
Term in office	4 years
Most recent election date	5/15/2022
Parties elected and seats per party	Strong Republic (19); Strong Lebanon (18); Development and Liberation (15); Loyalty to the Resistance (15); Independent Deputies (9); Democratic Gathering (8); Independents (20); Other (24)
Percentage of women in chamber	6.3%
Expected date of next election	May 2026
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (organized into 8 chambers, each with a presiding judge and 2 associate judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 10 members)
Judge selection and term of office	Court of Cassation judges appointed by Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body headed by the chief justice, and includes other judicial officials; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 5 by the Council of Ministers and 5 by parliament; members serve 5-year terms
Subordinate courts	Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals, religious courts; military courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Waël HACHEM, Counselor (since 15 March 2021)
Chancery	2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 939-6300
FAX	[1] (202) 939-6324
Email address and website	[email protected] http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/
Consulate(s) general	Detroit, New York, Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Lisa A. JOHNSON (since 6 February 2025)
Embassy	Awkar facing the Municipality P.O. Box 70-840 Antelias, Beirut
Mailing address	6070 Beirut Place, Washington DC 20521-6070
Telephone	[961] (04) 543-600
FAX	[961] (4) 544-019
Email address and website	[email protected] https://lb.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	6 (all cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Anjar; Baalbek; Byblos; Tyre; Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab); Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli