Iraqi government

Iraqi government
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Conventional long name	Republic of Iraq
Capital	Baghdad
Official languages	Arabic, Kurdish
Government type	Federal parliamentary republic
President	Abdul Latif Rashid
Prime minister	Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani
Legislature	Council of Representatives

Iraqi government

The Iraqi government is the federal political authority of the Republic of Iraq established after the 2003 Iraq War and reconstituted under the 2005 Iraqi Constitution. It operates as a federal parliamentary system with separated institutions including an executive led by a Prime Minister, a bicameral-style parliamentary practice centered on the Council of Representatives, and a judiciary asserting independence through the Supreme Court of Iraq. Major actors within the system include national parties such as Dawa Party, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and Iraqi Communist Party, alongside international stakeholders like the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq.

History

Iraq’s modern statehood traces to the post-World War I mandate period and the creation of the Kingdom of Iraq under the British Mandate for Mesopotamia; the 1958 14 July Revolution overthrew the monarchy and established the Republic of Iraq. Subsequent decades featured governance by the Ba'ath Party and leaders including Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and Saddam Hussein, with policies shaped by events such as the Iran–Iraq War and the Gulf War. The 2003 Invasion of Iraq led to the collapse of the Ba'athist regime, the Coalition Provisional Authority administration, and the drafting of the 2005 Iraqi Constitution following the Iraqi Governing Council. The post-2005 period saw power-sharing arrangements among Shi'a, Sunni, and Kurdish blocs, the rise and defeat of ISIL during the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017), and ongoing reforms influenced by International Monetary Fund programs and regional agreements such as relations with Iran and Turkey.

Constitutional framework

The legal foundation is the 2005 Iraqi Constitution, ratified after the 2005 Iraqi elections and endorsed by the Iraqi Transitional Government. It defines Iraq as a federal, democratic, representative republic with protected rights drawn from instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and obligations under treaties such as the Geneva Conventions. Constitutional articles allocate competencies between the federal level and Kurdistan Region, stipulate mechanisms for disputed territories resolution, and guarantee minority protections including for Assyrian people and Mandaeans. Disputes over oil revenue-sharing invoke institutions like the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq and negotiation with companies such as South Oil Company.

Executive branch

The executive is headed by the Prime Minister of Iraq who leads the Council of Ministers and is nominated by parliamentary majorities following consultations with the President of Iraq. The President of Iraq performs largely ceremonial duties, with powers to ratify treaties and appoint senior officials such as the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces. Key ministries include the Ministry of Interior (Iraq), Ministry of Defence (Iraq), and Ministry of Oil (Iraq), each interacting with entities like the Iraqi National Intelligence Service and state-owned companies including the Iraq National Oil Company. Executive authority has been shaped by coalition bargaining among parties including State of Law Coalition and Sadr Movement, and influenced by external actors such as the United States and Iran.

Legislative branch

The primary legislature is the unicameral Council of Representatives elected through proportional representation; it enacts laws, approves the budget, and confirms ministerial nominations. Parliamentary blocs such as Kurdistan Democratic Party and National Wisdom Movement compete for seats; specialized committees oversee portfolios ranging from finance to security. The constitution allowed for a proposed upper chamber, a Federation Council, but practical legislation remains concentrated in the Council of Representatives. Historical milestones include the 2005 and 2010 national elections and the 2018 electoral reforms prompted by mass protests like the 2019–2021 Iraqi protests.

Judicial system

The judiciary is anchored by the Supreme Court of Iraq and the High Judicial Council, tasked with constitutional review, dispute resolution, and oversight of lower courts. Criminal and civil jurisdictions operate through courts such as the Central Criminal Court of Baghdad, while the Court of Cassation addresses appeals. Judicial independence has been tested by politicized prosecutions, transitional justice efforts following the fall of Saddam Hussein, and cases involving human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch. The judiciary also adjudicates electoral disputes and provincial autonomy cases involving the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Security and military institutions

Security forces include the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Air Force, and units formerly integrated into the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), with oversight by the Ministry of Defence (Iraq) and the Prime Minister of Iraq as commander. Counterinsurgency and stabilization campaigns against ISIL involved partnerships with the Multinational Force and advisory missions such as the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. Internal security responsibilities rest with the Ministry of Interior (Iraq), including the Iraqi Federal Police and Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, while border security engages neighbors like Saudi Arabia and Syria in bilateral arrangements.

Subnational governance and administration

Iraq is divided into governorates (provinces) led by elected provincial councils and governors; prominent governorates include Basra Governorate, Nineveh Governorate, and Anbar Governorate. The Kurdistan Regional Government exercises devolved authority in Erbil and surrounding provinces under a regional parliament and president such as figures from the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Local administration interfaces with national ministries, development banks like the Central Bank of Iraq, and international donors including the World Bank for reconstruction projects following conflicts such as the Battle of Mosul (2016–17). Issues of decentralization, revenue-sharing, and municipal services continue to be negotiated through frameworks established by the 2005 Iraqi Constitution.

Category:Politics of Iraq