Official Name:  Republic of the Philippines

Form of Government:  Democratic

Independence:   June 12, 1898

Constitution:  The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines restored the republican form of government in the country.   It was ratified on February 2, 1987.

Branches:

• Executive --- president and vice-president
• Legislative --- bicameral legislature (Upper and Lower House)
• Judiciary  --- independent. 

Incumbent Officers:

President:  Benigno S. Aquino III
Vice-President:  Jejomar C. Binay
Senate President: Juan Ponce Enrile
Speaker of the
House of Representatives: Feliciano Belmonte

Administrative  Subdivisions:   As of September 30, 2006, the Philippines had 17 regions, 79 provinces, 117 cities, 1,506 municipalities and 41,993 barangays. During this period, Luzon remains the largest island in the country, with 8 regions, 38 provinces, 58 cities, 713 municipalities and 20,489 barangays. Visayas has 3 regions, 16 provinces, 32 cities, 376 municipalities and 11,443 barangays while Mindanao has 6 regions, 25 provinces, 27 cities, 417 municipalities and 10,061 barangays.

Suffrage:  Universal, but not compulsory, at age 18.

Note: Information are as of July 2010.