Government: Constitution of 1971 delegates majority of power to president, who dominates two-chamber legislature--lower People's Assembly and upper Consultative Council, created in 1978 from the old Central Committee of the Arab Socialist Union--and judiciary, although each constitutionally independent. President possesses virtually unlimited power to appoint and dismiss officials, including vice president or vice-presidents, prime minister and members of Council of Ministers, military officers, and governors of the twenty-six administrative subdivisions known as governorates.

Politics: President Husni Mubarak (1981- ), former military officer, as were his predecessors: Gamal Abdul Nasser (1954-70) and Anwar as Sadat (1970-81). Nasser was leader and Sadat member of Free Officers' group that overthrew monarchy in 1952 Revolution. President controlled National Democratic Party formed in 1977. Opposition composed of number of secular and religious parties in legislature, of which Muslim Brotherhood was the chief, and some nonparliamentary Islamic extremist groups.