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System of Government

Independent sovereign constitutional Sultanate, with His Majesty The Sultan as the supreme executive authority.

Type of Government

Brunei is an independent sovereign Sultanate which is governed on the basis of a written Constitution.

His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan is the supreme executive authority in Brunei Darussalam. His Majesty has occupied the position of Prime Minister since resumption of independence in 1984.

Brunei's administrative system is centred on the Prime Minister's Office which has provided the thrust behind His Majesty's aim to introduce greater efficiency in the Government. In his National Day speech in 1987, His Majesty pointed out that it was essential to keep the country's administrative machinery up-to-date in line with the development of Brunei as an independent nation. His Majesty has followed a combination of traditional and reforming policies, moving away from a structure of a Chief Minister and State Secretary to a full ministerial system with specified portfolios.

Structure

MINISTRIES

Prime Minister's Office
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Industries and Primary Resourses
Ministry of Religious Affairs
Ministry of Development
Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Communications

Since 1 January 1984, the Council of Ministers has been known as the Council of Cabinet Ministers .

Several Councils also advise and assist His Majesty:

• The Privy Council is presided over by His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan. Its main functions are to advise His Majesty on matters relating to prerogatives of the royal pardon, and on constitutional matters, and bestow state honours and titles.
  
• The Council of Succession determines, subject to the Constitution and the Succession and Regency Proclamation 1959, the succession to the throne.
  
• The Religious Council advises His Majesty as the head of the religion pertaining to the Islamic f