Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Clement MOUAMBA*
• Assembly: Congo (Brazzaville) has a bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consisting of the Senate (Sénat) with 72 seats** and the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 151 seats.

*A constitutional referendum in 2015 changed the head of government from the president to the prime minister.

** Expanded from 66 members to account for the creation of Pointe-Noire Region

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 7-year term.
• In the Senate (Sénat) 72 members are indirectly elected by regional governing councils to serve 6-year terms*. In the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) 151 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.

* 71 members are elected by indirect vote by district, local, and regional councils to serve 6-year terms. One-half of the Senate is renewed every 3 years.