Nepal is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government and an independent judiciary.
In 1990, the King, formerly an absolute monarch, legalised political parties, after which an interim government promulgated a new democratic Constitution.
The King retains important residual powers, but has dissociated himself from direct day-to-day government activities. The democratically elected Parliament consists of the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the National Council (Upper House).
Since 1990 Nepal has held four national elections, two for the Parliament and two for local officials. International observers have considered these elections to be generally free and fair.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled at least every 5 years. Mid-term elections may be called if the ruling party loses its majority, loses a vote of no confidence, or calls for elections. The Constitution grants suffrage to all citizens of age 18 and over.
Citizens, through their elected representatives, have the right to amend the Constitution, with the exception of certain basic principles which include the sovereignty of the people, the multi-party system, fundamental rights, and the constitutional monarchy.
The King exercises certain powers with the advice and consent of the Council of Ministers. These include exclusive authority to enact, amend, and repeal laws relating to succession to the throne. The Constitution also permits the King to exercise emergency powers in the event of war, external aggression, armed revolt, or extreme economic depression.
{{/usCountry}}The King exercises certain powers with the advice and consent of the Council of Ministers. These include exclusive authority to enact, amend, and repeal laws relating to succession to the throne. The Constitution also permits the King to exercise emergency powers in the event of war, external aggression, armed revolt, or extreme economic depression.
{{/usCountry}}However, the King's declaration of a state of emergency must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Lower House of the Parliament.
The Constitution also bars the registration and participation in elections of any political party that is based on "religion, community, caste, tribe, or region," or that does not operate openly and democratically.
Political parties: The main parties of Nepal are; Nepali Congress or NC, Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML, National Democratic Party or NDP (also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP), National People's Front (Rastriya Jana Morcha), Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal
Groups and leaders: Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency; numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups.