Government of Iraq

Government of Iraq
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Conventional long name	Republic of Iraq
Native name	جمهورية العراق
Capital	Baghdad
Government type	Federal parliamentary republic
President	Abdul Latif Rashid
Prime minister	Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani
Legislature	Council of Representatives of Iraq
Established event1	Iraq War
Established date1	2003

Government of Iraq The Government of Iraq is a federal parliamentary system formed in the aftermath of the Iraq War, created through processes involving Coalition Provisional Authority, the 2005 Iraqi parliamentary election, and the adoption of the Iraqi Constitution (2005). Its institutions evolved amid interactions with United States Department of Defense, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, and regional actors such as Iran–Iraq relations and Turkey–Iraq relations, while domestic actors including Iraqi National Congress, United Iraqi Alliance, and Kurdistan Democratic Party shaped party alignments.

History

Iraq's modern polity traces from the 1921 Kingdom of Iraq under Faisal I of Iraq to the 1958 Iraqi coup d'état led by Abd al-Karim Qasim, then through the Ba'ath Party era of Saddam Hussein and the 1990 Gulf War that involved United Nations Security Council sanctions. The 2003 Invasion of Iraq by United States and coalition partners toppled Saddam, leading to governance under the Coalition Provisional Authority and transitional bodies including the Iraqi Governing Council and the Transitional Administrative Law. Post-2005 developments saw the rise of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011), the 2014 offensive by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and the subsequent Battle of Mosul (2016–17) that engaged forces such as the Iraqi Army, Popular Mobilization Forces, and Peshmerga. Political milestones include the 2005 constitution, successive Iraqi parliamentary elections, and federal disputes such as the 2017 Kurdistan independence referendum.

Constitution and Legal Framework

The 2005 Iraqi Constitution (2005) establishes Iraq as a federal, democratic, and pluralistic state, delineating powers among the Presidency of Iraq, the Council of Representatives of Iraq, and the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq. Key legal instruments include the Transitional Administrative Law and subsequent legislation on de-Ba'athification, oil and gas governance negotiated with entities like the Iraq National Oil Company and provincial authorities such as the Kurdistan Regional Government. Constitutional controversies have involved disputes adjudicated by the High Judicial Council (Iraq), international agreements such as the Status of Forces Agreement, and human rights matters reviewed by bodies like Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Executive Branch

The executive comprises the President of Iraq as head of state and the Prime Minister of Iraq as head of government, supported by the Council of Ministers of Iraq, including ministries such as Ministry of Finance (Iraq), Ministry of Interior (Iraq), and Ministry of Defense (Iraq). Executive formation follows parliamentary majorities arising from blocs like the State of Law Coalition or the Sairoun Alliance, with presidential election procedures involving the Council of Representatives of Iraq and mediation by figures such as Muqtada al-Sadr on various occasions. The executive interacts with international counterparts including the United States Department of State, European Union External Action Service, and regional organizations like the Arab League.

Legislative Branch

Legislative authority is vested in the unicameral Council of Representatives of Iraq, elected via proportional representation in nationwide Iraqi parliamentary elections, and empowered to pass laws, confirm cabinet nominations, and oversee the executive with committees mirroring counterparts in bodies like the United States Congress and the British House of Commons. Political factions represented have included Iraqi Communist Party, Iraqi Islamic Party, Kurdistan Alliance, and parliamentary blocs tied to leaders such as Nouri al-Maliki and Ibrahim al-Jaafari. The legislature has enacted laws on oil revenue sharing, provincial powers, and anti-corruption measures debated alongside institutions like the Commission on Integrity (Iraq).

Judicial System

Judicial authority centers on the Judicial Council of Iraq and the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq, which interprets the constitution and adjudicates federal-provincial disputes, while criminal and civil matters proceed through courts such as the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. The judiciary has been influenced by legal traditions from the Ottoman Empire, British Mandate of Mesopotamia, and modern codes, with involvement by international commissions including the Special Tribunal for Iraq and scrutiny from organizations like Amnesty International on due process and human rights protections.

Provincial and Local Government

Iraq's federal structure includes governorates (provinces) such as Baghdad Governorate, Basra Governorate, and Nineveh Governorate, with elected provincial councils established under the Provincial Powers Law and contested by local actors including the Kurdistan Regional Government and entities like the Anbar Salvation Council. Decentralization debates involve control over oil resources, as seen in disputes between the Iraqi central government and provincial authorities, and local governance intersects with reconstruction programs funded by organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Security and Defense Institutions

Security institutions include the Iraqi Armed Forces, composed of the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Air Force, and Iraqi Navy, alongside paramilitary groups such as the Popular Mobilization Forces and regional security actors like the Peshmerga. Defense policy has been shaped by agreements like the Status of Forces Agreement (2008), the involvement of the Multinational Force in Iraq, and cooperation with states including United States–Iraq relations and Iran–Iraq relations. Counterterrorism efforts have targeted groups including Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Al-Qaeda in Iraq, coordinated with international partners in operations exemplified by the Battle of Fallujah (2004) and the Siege of Mosul (2016–17).

Category:Politics of Iraq