Politics

The politics of Azerbaijan take place in a framework of a presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Judiciary is nominally independent of the executive and the legislature.

Executive Branch

The head of state and head of government are separate from the country's law-making body. The people elect the president for a five-year term of office. The prime minister and other ministers are appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly. The president appoints all cabinet-level government administrators.

The executive power is carried out by president, who is elected for a 5 year term by direct elections. The president is authorised to form the Cabinet of Ministers, an inferior executive body, subordinated to him. The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan consists primarily of the Prime Minister, his Deputies and Ministers. The president does not have the right to dissolve the National Assembly, but has the right to veto its decisions. To override the presidential veto, the parliament must have a majority of 95 votes

Legislative Branch

The legislative power is held by the unicameral National Assembly (Milli Meclisi) and the Supreme National Assembly in the Nakhchevan Autonomous Republic. Parliamentary elections are held every five years, on the first Sunday of November. The laws enacted by the National Assembly, unless specified otherwise come into effect from the day of their publication.

Judicial Branch

The judicial power is vested in the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court and the Economic Court. The President nominates the judges in these courts.

Foreign Relations

Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 158 countries so far and holds membership in 38 international organisations. An observer status is held in the Non-Aligned Movement and World Trade Organization and the correspondent one at the International Telecommunication Union. On May 9, 2006 Azerbaijan was elected as one the members of the newly established Human Rights Council by the General Assembly. The term of office begun on June 19, 2006. Azerbaijan is an active member of international coalition fighting international terrorism. The country is contributing to peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Azerbaijan is an active member of NATO 'Partnership for Peace' program.

Foreign policy priorities of Azerbaijan include:

the restoration of the territorial integrity
elimination of the consequences of the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and other sevent regions of Azerbaijan
development of good-neighbourly and mutually advantageous relations with neighbouring countries
promotion of security and stability in the region
integration into European and Transatlantic security and cooperation structures
promotion of transregional economic, energy and transportation projects

Military

Modern national armed forces of Azerbaijan were formed by presidential decree in October, 1991. The Azerbaijan Armed Forces consists of four military branches: the Army, Air Force, Navy and Air Defence Force. There are also the National Guard, Interior Guard, Border Guard and the Coast Guard. The president is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of military forces. At the beginning of 2007, the armed forces of Azerbaijan consisted of 95,000 members (85,000 in army, 8,000 in the air forces and air defence and 2,000 in the navy).