The Provisional Government
Structure
and Major Goals
The Iraqi Government comprises the National Assembly (legislative power), Presidency Council and Council of Ministers (executive power) and Higher Jurisdicial Council , Federal Supreme Court, Court of Cassation, Court of Appeal and Central Criminal Court (judiciary power).
On January 30, Iraqis voted for a 275-member Transitional National Assembly, which main goal is to prepare the country for elections for permanent government by the end of 2005.
The first task of the Assembly is to elect a Presidency Council - President and two Vice Presidents.
Then, the Presidency Council must choose Prime Minister. After theNational Assembly has confirmed the President's choice for this post, the Prime Minister will have 4 weeks to submit nominations for the Council of Ministers to the Presidency Council. His nominations need to be approved by the Parliament.
The last, and very important goal of the Transitional Assembly will be the drafting of a new permanent Constitution. The latter will then be submitted to the Iraqi people for approval in a referendum.
Among the main issues the members of the Assembly will have to agree upon will be the role of Islam in the consitution, the rights and freedoms of women, and the question of Kurds self-governance within Iraq - issues on which religious and secular groups in the parliament have different opinions.
If the Draft Constitution is approved by the people, elections for Permanent Government will be held in December and the new government should take office by the end of the year.
If voters reject the Draft Constitution, elections for new Transitional Assembly will be held and new Provisional government will be installed.
