Government: Democracy, with president and unicameral legislature, Supreme Soviet, both popularly elected. Government composed of president and Cabinet of Ministers. Procuracy headed by prosecutor general. New constitution adopted March 28, 1994; went into effect March 30, 1994.

Politics: Political parties and movements generally quite small. They include Belarusian Popular Front, Party of Communists of Belarus, Communist Party of Belarus, United Democratic Party of Belarus, Belarusian Social-Democratic Assembly (Hramada), Belarusian Peasant Party, Belarusian Christian-Democratic Union, Slavic Council "Belaya Rus'", and a number of other parties.

Foreign Relations: Recognized by more than 100 countries. Nearly seventy had some level of diplomatic relations. First recognized by Romania. Belarusian diplomatic presence abroad limited. Relations with Russia overshadow domestic and foreign policy. Relations with Ukraine weak. Relations with Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia friendly.