Royal parasol; national colors: yellow, white, black.
Title | "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty) |
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Lyric/music | Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Pengiran Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap |
Date of Independence | 1 January 1984 (from the UK) |
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National holiday | National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection; the Sultan's birthday, 15 June |
Legal system | mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; note - in April 2019, the full sharia penal codes came into force and apply to Muslims and partly to non-Muslims in parallel with present common law codes |
International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICC |
Constitution | |
History | Drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959 |
Amendment process | Proposed by the monarch; passage requires submission to the Privy Council for Legislative Council review and finalization takes place by proclamation; the monarch can accept or reject changes to the original proposal provided by the Legislative Council |
Citizenship | |
Citizenship by birth | no |
Citizenship by descent only | the father must be a citizen of Brunei |
Dual citizenship recognized | no |
Residency requirement for naturalization | 12 years |
Executive Branch | |
Chief of state | Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967) |
Head of government | Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967) |
Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; note - 4 additional advisory councils appointed by the monarch are the Religious Council, Privy Council for constitutional issues, Council of Succession, and Legislative Council; Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah is also Minister of Finance, Defense, and Foreign Affairs and Trade |
Elections/appointments | none; the monarchy is hereditary |
Legislative branch | |
Legislature name | Legislative Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Negara) |
Legislative structure | Unicameral |
Number of seats | 45 (all appointed) |
Electoral system | Plurality/majority |
Scope of elections | Full renewal |
Term in office | 5 years |
Most recent election date | 1/20/2023 |
Percentage of women in chamber | 11.8% |
Expected date of next election | January 2028 |
Judicial branch | |
Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court (consists the Court of Appeals and the High Court); |
Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch to serve until age 65, and older if approved by the monarch; Sharia Court judges appointed by the monarch for life |
Subordinate courts | Intermediate Court; Magistrates' Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts; lower sharia courts |
Diplomatic representation in the US | |
Chief of mission | Ambassador Dato Paduka Haji SERBINI bin Haji Ali (since 28 January 2016) |
Chancery | 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
Telephone | [1] (202) 237-1838 |
FAX | [1] (202) 885-0560 |
Email address and website | info@bruneiembassy.org http://www.bruneiembassy.org/index.html |
Consulate(s) | New York |
Diplomatic representation from the US | |
Chief of mission | Ambassador Caryn R. McCLELLAND (since December 2021) |
Embassy | Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Duta, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115 |
Mailing address | 4020 Bandar Seri Begawan Place, Washington DC 20521-4020 |
Telephone | (673) 238-7400 |
FAX | (673) 238-7533 |
Email address and website | ConsularBrunei@state.gov https://bn.usembassy.gov/ |
Want to know more about Brunei? Check all different factbooks for Brunei below.