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Liberia - Government and Political Conditions (Notes)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS Liberia has a bicameral legislature consisting of 64 representatives and 30 senators. Historically, the executive branch heavily influenced the legislature and judicial system, the latter being largely dysfunctional for now. The 2005 election placed a spectrum of political personalities in the legislature, most for six-year terms. Senior senators were elected for nine-year terms. Party structures remain weak, and politics continues to be personality-driven. The judiciary is divided into four levels, including justices of the peace, courts of record (magistrate courts), courts of first instance (circuit and specialty courts), and the Supreme Court. Traditional courts and lay courts exist in rural areas of the country. Trial by ordeal, though officially outlawed, is practiced in various parts of Liberia. Locally, political power emanates from traditional chiefs (town, clan, or paramount chiefs), mayors, and district commissioners. Mayors are elected in principal cities in Liberia. Superintendents appointed by the president govern the counties. There are 15 counties in Liberia. Principal Government Officials President--Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Vice President--Joseph Nyumah Boakai Speaker of the House of Representatives--J. Alex Tyler Chief Justice of the Supreme Court--Johnnie N. Lewis Minister of Foreign Affairs--George W. Wallace Minister of Finance--Antoinette Sayeh Minister of Justice--Frances Johnson Morris Minister of Defense--Brownie Samukai Minister of Post and Telecommunication--Jackson E. Doe Minister of Internal Affairs--Ambulai Johnson Minister of Education--Joseph Korto Minister of Public Works--Luseni Donzo Minister of Agriculture--Christopher Toe Minister of Health and Social Welfare--Walter Gwenigale Minister of Commerce and Industry--Olubanke King-Akerele Acting Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism--Lawrence Bropleh Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs--Toga Gaywea McIntosh Acting Minister of State and Chief of Staff--Edward McClain Minister of Land, Mines and Energy--Eugene Shannon Minister of Labor--Samuel Kofi Woods Minister of Youth and Sports--Etmoniah Tarpeh Minister of Gender and Development--Varbah Gayflor Chairman, National Investment Commission--Richard Tolbert Director, Bureau of the Budget--Augustine Ngafua Director General, General Service Agency--Willard Russell Executive Governor, Central Bank of Liberia--J. Mills Jones Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization--Abla G. Williams (Acting) Inspector-General, Liberia National Police Force--Beatrice Seah Director, National Security Agency--Fombah Sirleaf Director General, National Fire Service--Joseph A.B. Derrick Chairman, Governance Reform Commission--Amos C. Sawyer Chairman, National Elections Commission--James Fromoyan Chairman, Truth and Reconciliation Commission--Jerome Verdier Liberia maintains an embassy in the United States at 5201 16th Street, NW, Washington DC, 202-723-0437.