SIERRA LEONE & POLITICS
Conventional Long Form Name: Republic of Sierra Leone
Capital: Freetown
Type of Government: Constitutional Democracy
Date of Independence: April 27 1961 (from the UK)
National Holidays: Independence Day, April 27 (1961)
Chief of State: President Ernest Bai KOROMA
Head of Government: President Ernest Bai KOROMA
Executive Branch Powers: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president elections. President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)
Legislative Branch Powers: Unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Judicial Branch Powers: Supreme Civil and Criminal Court; all judges are appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Supreme Administrative Court and Court of Auditors; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Name of Ambassador to the U.S. : Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS
Location of embassy in the U.S. : 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Location(s) of consulate(s) in the U.S. : Ambassador Michael S. OWEN
Name of U.S. Ambassador: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
Location of U.S. embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
Location(s) of U.S. consulate(s): None listed
Name of THEIR representative to UN: Shekou M. Touray
Flag Description: Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and blue; green symbolizes agriculture, mountains, and natural resources, white represents unity and justice, and blue the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown
National Symbol: Lion
Capital: Freetown
Type of Government: Constitutional Democracy
Date of Independence: April 27 1961 (from the UK)
National Holidays: Independence Day, April 27 (1961)
Chief of State: President Ernest Bai KOROMA
Head of Government: President Ernest Bai KOROMA
Executive Branch Powers: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president elections. President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)
Legislative Branch Powers: Unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Judicial Branch Powers: Supreme Civil and Criminal Court; all judges are appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Supreme Administrative Court and Court of Auditors; Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Name of Ambassador to the U.S. : Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS
Location of embassy in the U.S. : 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Location(s) of consulate(s) in the U.S. : Ambassador Michael S. OWEN
Name of U.S. Ambassador: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
Location of U.S. embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
Location(s) of U.S. consulate(s): None listed
Name of THEIR representative to UN: Shekou M. Touray
Flag Description: Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and blue; green symbolizes agriculture, mountains, and natural resources, white represents unity and justice, and blue the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown
National Symbol: Lion