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Government Stats: compare key data on Czech Republic & Poland

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Definitions

  • Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.
  • Capital city > Geographic coordinates: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Capital city > Name: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Constitution: The dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments to a nation's constitution
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Executive branch > Cabinet: Cabinet includes the official name for any body of high-ranking advisers roughly comparable to a U.S. Cabinet. Also notes the method for selection of members.
  • Executive branch > Chief of state: The name and title of any person or role roughly equivalent to a U.S. Chief of State. This means the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government
  • Executive branch > Head of government: Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government.
  • Government type: A description of the basic form of government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).
  • Judicial branch: The name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.
  • Legal system: A brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.
  • Legislative branch: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Political parties and leaders: Significant political organizations and their leaders.
  • Political pressure groups and leaders: Organizations with leaders involved in politics, but not standing for legislative election.
  • Suffrage: The age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted
  • International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
  • Country name > Conventional long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Civil law system: Description.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Executive branch > Elections: Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election
  • National symbol(s): A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
  • Flag description: A written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
  • Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Country name > Conventional short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Constitutional form: Constitutional form of government.
  • Transnational Issues > Disputes > International: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
  • Total businesses registered > Number: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward.
  • National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
  • Legislative branch > Election results: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Legislative branch > Elections: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Democracy and rights > Press freedom index: Compares countries by their degree of government censorship, according to the Press freedom index. This index, created by the non-governmental organization Reporters without borders (RWS), is ellaborated using data from an extensive annual survey sent to professional reporters throughout the world. The survey contains questions about the type and ownership of media present in the country, freedom of speech, violence exerted against reporters, election campaigns, access of political parties to the media, etc.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage: Percentage of seats held by women in country's national parliament or legislative houses.
  • Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. "
  • Executive branch > Election results: Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election (if any)
  • Judicial branch > Subordinate courts: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Basis of executive legitimacy: Basis of executive legitimacy.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.
    Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
    Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
    Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
    Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
    Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
    Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.
    Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
    Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
    Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
    Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
    Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa.
    Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics ...
    Full definition
  • Country name > Local short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press: Compares countries by freedom of the press. The lower the score, the more free the press of that country is. The scores are taken from the Freedom of the Press Index, elaborated by Freedom House, self-defined as "an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world". The data used in the index come from an annual survey of media independence in 197 countries and territories, assessing the degree of print, broadcast, and internet freedom in each of them.
  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament: Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber occupied by women.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
  • Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote: Percentage of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
  • Democracy > Civil and political liberties: Civil and political liberties
    Units: Index Ranging from 7 (High Levels of Liberties) to 1 (Low
    Units: This is the average of two indicators - civil liberties and political liberties.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
  • National holiday: The primary national day of celebration - often independence day.
  • Capital > Geographic coordinates: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Democracy > First female parliamentarian: Year first woman elected or appointed to parliament.
  • Time required to start a business > Days: Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Leaders > President: Government > Leaders > President
  • Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • Democracy and rights > Democracy Index: DI 2012.
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient.
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Status Index 2006: The Status Index’s overall result represents the mean value of the scores for the dimensions “Political Transformationâ€? and “Economic Transformationâ€?. The mean value was calculated using the exact, unrounded values for both these dimensions, which, in turn, were derived from the ratings for the five political criteria (based on 18 indicators) and the seven economic criteria (based on 14 indicators). The table shows rounded scores for political and economic transformation as well as for the Status Index’s overall result. In some cases, therefore, the overall result differs slightly from the mean value.
  • Red tape > Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Politics: Country politics.
  • International law organization participation: This entry includes information on a country's acceptance of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and of the International Criminal Court (ICCt); 55 countries have accepted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations and 11 have accepted ICJ jurisdiction without reservations; 114 countries have accepted ICCt jurisdiction. Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups explains the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt.
  • Parliament > Seats held by men: Number of seats held by men in country's naitonal parliament or legislative houses.
  • Country name > Local long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency (years). Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
  • Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures to register a business (number). Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses.
  • Leaders > President > Summary: Government > Leaders > President > Summary
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel: Date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state. Note that some countries had a “de facto” recognition in place long before the legal recognition.
  • Democracy > Democratic institutions rating: Democratic institutions
    Units: Scale ranging from -10 (autocratic) to +10 (democratic)
  • UN membership date: Date of United Nations Membership
  • Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people: DI 2012. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Total businesses registered > Number per 1000: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers.
  • Capital city: The location of the seat of government.
  • Capital > Name: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Legal origin: Legal origin identifies the origin of the Company Law or Commercial Code in each country
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • Spending > Expense > Current LCU: Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends."
  • Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout: The proportion of registered voters who actually voted.
  • Legislature (parliament) > People per member: Number of people each member of the legislature represents on average. The number of members of the legislature is the sum of the members of all chambers of parliament, if applicable.
  • Capital > Time difference: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • International relations: Country international relations.
  • Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million: Time required to get electricity (days). Time required to get electricity is the number of days to obtain a permanent electricity connection. The measure captures the median duration that the electricity utility and experts indicate is necessary in practice, rather than required by law, to complete a procedure. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members: Members of the lower house of the legislature or of the only chamber in a unicameral system.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members: Members of the upper house of the legislature. Does not include countries with a unicameral system.
  • Democracy > Female ministers: Women in government at ministerial level in 2000 (as % of total). Data were provided by states based on their definition of national executive and may therefore include women serving as ministers and vice ministers and those holding other ministerial positions, including parliamentary secretaries.
  • Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state: Head(s) of state.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes: Notes and remarks about the date on which Israel was officially recognized as a state.
  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
  • Democracy > Female parliamentarians: Seats in parliament held by women (as % of total). Data are as of 8 March 2002. Where there are lower and upper houses, data refer to the weighted average of women's shares of seats in both houses.
  • Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Leaders > President > Profile: Government > Leaders > President > Profile
  • Role of head of state: Head of state.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote): This list shows the percentage of votes obtained by nationalist parties across Europe at the latest  elections held in their respective countries. Note that the percentages show the votes from all the parties combined, and only for general elections (some parties may obtain a quite higher percentage in regional elections). Nationalist parties usually hold right-wing populist views, and among their common demands are a higher control of immigration, extended social/labor rights for country nationals, and a restriction of islamic customs -such as the veil or the construction of mosques-, though their ideologies and goals vary from country to country. Some parties have as their main goal the seggregation of a region from its parent country (with examples in Scotland, Catalonia and Northern Ireland). Most of nationalist parties with elected members in the European Parliament belong to the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group.
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production.
  • Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong: Strength of legal rights index measures the degree to which collateral and bankruptcy laws protect the rights of borrowers and lenders and thus facilitate lending. The index ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating that these laws are better designed to expand access to credit."
  • Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million: Burden of customs procedure, WEF (1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient). Burden of Customs Procedure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's efficiency of customs procedures. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating greater efficiency. Data are from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey, conducted for 30 years in collaboration with 150 partner institutes. The 2009 round included more than 13,000 respondents from 133 countries. Sampling follows a dual stratification based on company size and the sector of activity. Data are collected online or through in-person interviews. Responses are aggregated using sector-weighted averaging. The data for the latest year are combined with the data for the previous year to create a two-year moving average. Respondents evaluated the efficiency of customs procedures in their country. The lowest score (1) rates the customs procedure as extremely inefficient, and the highest score (7) as extremely efficient. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU: Subsidies, grants, and other social benefits include all unrequited, nonrepayable transfers on current account to private and public enterprises; grants to foreign governments, international organisations, and other government units; and social security, social assistance benefits, and employer social benefits in cash and in kind."
  • Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU: Compensation of employees consists of all payments in cash, as well as in kind (such as food and housing), to employees in return for services rendered, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions that provide benefits to employees."
  • Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for upper house members: Members of the upper house*.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Management Index 2006: This Index evaluates management by political decision-makers while taking into consideration the level of difficulty. The Management Index’s overall result is calculated by multiplying the intermediate result with a factor derived from the level of difficulty evaluation.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Per $ GDP figures expressed per 1 $ gross domestic product.
  • Parliament > Seats held by women per million people: Number of seats held by women in country's parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Democracy > Female suffrage: Year in which women received the right to vote. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to vote.
  • Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million: Time required to start a business (days). Time required to start a business is the number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million: Time required to register property (days). Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Procedures to build a warehouse (number). Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million: Time required to build a warehouse (days). Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Capital > Daylight saving time: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Total businesses registered > Number > Per capita: Total businesses registered. Because of underreporting of firms that have closed or exited, especially in developing countries, the data on total registered firms may be biased upward. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties: Absolute number of votes at the most recent national election that went to parties with a nationalist ideology.
  • Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index>Political Transformation: Political Transformation The score for â€?Political Transformation“ is obtained by calculating the mean value of the ratings for the following criteria: · Stateness · Political Participation · Rule of Law · Stability of Democratic Institutions · Political and Social Integration
  • Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador: Name of ambassador to the USA.
  • Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state. Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
  • Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons: This entry is derived from Government > Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons, which includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant 2000 U.S. dollars. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • Time required to build a warehouse > Days: Time required to build a warehouse is the number of calendar days needed to complete the required procedures for building a warehouse. If a procedure can be speeded up at additional cost, the fastest procedure, independent of cost, is chosen.
  • Failed States Index: FSI 2013.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age
  • Democracy > Female candidacy: Year in which women received the right to stand for election. Data refer to the year in which right to vote or stand for election on a universal and equal basis was recognized. Where two years are shown, the first refers to the first partial recognition of the right to stand for election.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote: The total number of votes cast in the relevant election. Total vote includes valid and invalid votes, as well as blank votes in cases where these are separated from invalid votes. More information on valid, invalid and blank votes can be found at aceproject.org
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration: The number of registered voters. The figure represents the number of names on the voters' register at the time that the registration process closes, as reported by the electoral management body.
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Time required to enforce a contract > Days: Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment.
  • Procedures to register property > Number: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Procedures to build a warehouse > Number: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers.
  • Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes: January 1, 2005
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million: Start-up procedures are those required to start a business, including interactions to obtain necessary permits and licenses and to complete all inscriptions, verifications, and notifications to start operations. Data are for businesses with specific characteristics of ownership, size, and type of production. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: Statements on the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia issued by countries who do not recognize their sovereignty.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament: Number of members of the legislature (sum of members of all chambers of parliament where applicable).
  • Democracy and rights > Last election: Last election.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Leaders > Prime Minister > Profile: Government > Leaders > Prime Minister > Profile
  • Trademarks > Nonresidents: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment.
  • Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in current local currency.
  • Parliamentary republic adoption date: Date each country adopted the parliamentary republic form of government.
  • Democracy and rights > Next election: Next election.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense: Subsidies, grants, and other social benefits include all unrequited, nonrepayable transfers on current account to private and public enterprises; grants to foreign governments, international organisations, and other government units; and social security, social assistance benefits, and employer social benefits in cash and in kind."
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of State of Palestine: Date on which Palestine was officially recognized as a state.
  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > %: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%). Women in parliaments are the percentage of parliamentary seats in a single or lower chamber held by women.
  • Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million: Time required to enforce a contract (days). Time required to enforce a contract is the number of calendar days from the filing of the lawsuit in court until the final determination and, in appropriate cases, payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours: Time to prepare and pay taxes is the time, in hours per year, it takes to prepare, file, and pay (or withhold) three major types of taxes: the corporate income tax, the value added or sales tax, and labor taxes, including payroll taxes and social security contributions.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant 2000 U.S. dollars.
  • Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes: January 1, 2006
  • Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Procedures to enforce a contract (number). Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
  • Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million: Procedures to register property (number). Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Red tape > Management time dealing with officials > % of management time: Management time dealing with officials (% of management time). Time dealing with officials is the percentage of management time in a given week spent on requirements imposed by government regulations (taxes, customs, labor regulations, licensing and registration).
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes: January 1, 2007
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant local currency.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita: General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation. Data are in constant 2000 U.S. dollars. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader: January 1, 2005
  • Trademarks > Residents > Per capita: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population.
  • Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader: January 1, 2007
  • Spending > Other expense > Current LCU: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
  • Time to resolve insolvency > Years: Time to resolve insolvency is the number of years from the filing for insolvency in court until the resolution of distressed assets.
  • General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth: Annual percentage growth of general government final consumption expenditure based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2000 U.S. dollars. General government final consumption expenditure (general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defense and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.
  • Time required to register property > Days: Time required to register property is the number of calendar days needed for businesses to secure rights to property.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Spending > Expense > % of GDP: Expense is cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services. It includes compensation of employees (such as wages and salaries), interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends."
  • Informal payments to public officials > % of firms: Informal payments to public officials are the percentage of firms expected to make informal payments to public officials to ""get things done"" with regard to customs, taxes, licenses, regulations, services, and the like."
  • Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense: Compensation of employees consists of all payments in cash, as well as in kind (such as food and housing), to employees in return for services rendered, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions that provide benefits to employees."
  • Parliament > Seats held by men per million people: Number of seats held by men in country's naitonal parliament or legislative houses. Figures expressed per million people for the same year.
  • Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader: January 1, 2005
  • Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader: January 1, 2007
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000: International IDEA has chosen to use not only the reported registration rate to calculate turnout percentages, but also the voting age population (VAP) which includes all citizens above the legal voting age. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer.
  • Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo: Date on which Kosovo was officially recognized as a state.
  • Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members: Members of the lower (or sole) house.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Foreign relations > Diplomatic relations with Palestine: Indicates whether or not each country has diplomatic relations with Palestine.
  • Leaders > Prime Minister > Summary: Government > Leaders > Prime Minister > Summary
  • Leaders > Prime Minister: Government > Leaders > Prime Minister
  • European Union > Council of the European Union votes: Number of votes each member state of the European Union has in the Council of the European Union.
  • Trademarks > Residents: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment.
  • Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita: Number of procedures to enforce a contract are the number of independent actions, mandated by law or courts, that demand interaction between the parties of a contract or between them and the judge or court officer. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
  • Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
  • Republic establishment date: The date on which each country (or its precursor) changed its form of government to a republic. In a republic, the power resides in the country’s people, the government and legislature is elected and the country is ruled according to its laws.
  • Management time dealing with officials > % of management time: Time dealing with officials is the percentage of management time in a given week spent on requirements imposed by government regulations (taxes, customs, labor regulations, licensing and registration).
  • Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes: The number of invalid votes, as reported by each country.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Capital city > Time difference: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense: Goods and services include all government payments in exchange for goods and services used for the production of market and nonmarket goods and services. Own-account capital formation is excluded.
  • Policy uncertainty > % of managers surveyed ranking this as a major business constraint: Policy uncertainty measures the share of senior managers who ranked economic and regulatory policy uncertainty as a major or very severe constraint.
  • Spending > Interest payments > % of expense: Interest payments include interest payments on government debt--including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments--to domestic and foreign residents."
  • Spending > Other expense > % of expense: Other expense is spending on dividends, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses, including provision for consumption of fixed capital."
  • Trademarks > Residents per million: Trademark applications filed are applications for registration of a trademark with a national or regional trademark office. Trademarks are distinctive signs that identify goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Trademarks protect owners of the mark by ensuring exclusive right to use it to identify goods or services or to authorize its use in return for payment. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Procedures to register property > Number per million: Number of procedures to register property is the number of procedures required for a businesses to secure rights to property. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
  • Ruling party: In power now.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million: Number of procedures to build a warehouse is the number of interactions of a company's employees or managers with external parties, including government agency staff, public inspectors, notaries, land registry and cadastre staff, and technical experts apart from architects and engineers. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
STAT Czech Republic Poland HISTORY
Administrative divisions 13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia), Karlovarsky (Karlovy Vary), Kralovehradecky (Hradec Kralove), Liberecky (Liberec), Moravskoslezsky (Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky (Olomouc), Pardubicky (Pardubice), Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky (Usti), Vysocina (Highlands), Zlinsky (Zlin) 16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie, Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie, Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)
Capital city > Geographic coordinates 50 05 N, 14 28 E 52 15 N, 21 00 E
Capital city > Name Prague Warsaw
Constitution previous 1960; latest ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993; amended several times, last in 2013 several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997; amended 2006, 2009
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address use embassy street address American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
Executive branch > Chief of state President Milos ZEMAN (since 8 March 2013) President Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (since 6 August 2010)
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Jiri RUSNOK (since 10 July 2013); Deputy Prime Ministers Jan FISCHER and Martin PECINA (both since 10 July 2013) Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Janusz PIECHOCINSKI (since 6 December 2012) and Elzbieta BIENKOWSKA (since 27 November 2013)
Government type parliamentary democracy republic
Judicial branch Supreme Court; judges are appointed by the president for an unlimited term; Constitutional Court; 15 judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for a 10-year term; Supreme Administrative Court; chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term; judges are appointed by the president for an unlimited term Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite period); Constitutional Tribunal (judges are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms)
Legal system in 2014, a new civil code will replace the existing civil law system, which is based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory and has been amended 40 times since the Communist regime fell in 1989 civil law system; changes gradually being introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat bicameral legislature consists of an upper house, the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, the Sejm (460 seats; members elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms); the designation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly
Political parties and leaders Action of Dissatisfied Citizens or ANO 2011 [Andrej BABIS]<br />Association of Independent Candidates-European Democrats or SNK-ED [Zdenka MARKOVA]<br />Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Pavel BELOBRADEK]<br />Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Miroslava NEMCOVA]<br />Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Vojtech FILIP]<br />Czech Pirate Party [Ivan BARTOS]<br />Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Bohuslav SOBOTKA]<br />Dawn of Direct Democracy or UPD [Tomio OKAMURA]<br />Green Party [Ondrej LISKA]<br />Liberal Democrats or LIDEM [Karolina PEAKE]<br />North Bohemians<br />Ostravak Movement<br />Public Affairs or VV [Radek JOHN]<br />Tradice Odpovednost Prosperita 09 or TOP 09 [Karel SCHWARZENBERG] Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK, chairman; Rafal GRUPINSKI, parliamentary caucus leader]<br />Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Leszek MILLER, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader]<br />Democratic Party or PD [Andrzej CELINSKI, chairman]<br />Democratic Party or SD [Pawel PISKORSKI, chairman]<br />German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Ryszard GALLA, representative]<br />Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI, chairman; Mariusz BLASZCZAK, parliamentary caucus leader]<br />League of Polish Families or LPR [Witold BALAZAK, chairman]<br />Palikot's Movement or RP [Janusz PALIKOT, chairman]<br />Poland Comes First or PJN [Pawel KOWAL, chairperson]<br />Polish People's Party or PSL [Janusz PIECHOCINSKI, chairman; Jan BURY, parliamentary caucus leader]<br />Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [Wojciech FILEMONOWICZ, chairman]<br />Union of Labor or UP [Waldemar WITKOWSKI, chairman]<br />United Poland or SP (political grouping of former PiS members, not officially registered) [Arkadiusz MULARCZYK, chairperson; Patrick JAKI, parliamentary caucus leader]
Political pressure groups and leaders Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Jaroslav ZAVADIL] All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ]<br />Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Stanislaw DZIWISZ, Archbishop Jozef MICHALIK]<br />Solidarity Trade Union [Piotr DUDA]
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
International organization participation Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Country name > Conventional long form Czech Republic Republic of Poland
Civil law system Descended from the Civil Code of the Austrian Empire (1811), influenced by German (1939\u201345) and Soviet (1947/68-89) legal codes during occupation periods, substantially reformed to remove Soviet influence and elements of socialist law after the Velvet Revolution (1989). The Polish Civil Code in force since 1965
Executive branch > Elections constitutional amendment passed in 2012 introduced presidential election by popular vote instead of by Parliament; president elected for a five-year term (may not serve more than two consecutive terms); elections last held on 11-12 January 2013 with a runoff on 25-26 January 2013 (next to be held in January 2018); prime minister appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 June and 4 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
National symbol(s) double-tailed lion white eagle
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days 19.5
Ranked 72nd.
30
Ranked 48th. 54% more than Czech Republic

Country name > Conventional short form Czech Republic Poland
Constitutional form Republic Republic
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International while threats of international legal action never materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the popular Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closes its controversial Soviet-style nuclear plant in Temelin, bordering Austria as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine
Total businesses registered > Number 2.33 million
Ranked 11th.
3.58 million
Ranked 5th. 54% more than Czech Republic

National anthem <strong>name: </strong>"Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP <strong>name: </strong>"Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Jozef WYBICKI/traditional
FAX 420 48
Legislative branch > Election results Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSSD 48, ODS 15, KDU-CSL 4, TOP 09 4, North Bohemians 2, KSCM 2, Green 1, Ostravak 1, Pirate 1, independent 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 20.5%, ANO 2011 18.7%, KSCM 14.9%, TOP 09 12%, ODS 7.7%%, UPD 6.9%, KDU-CSL 6.8% other 12.5%; seats by party - CSSD 50, ANO 2011 47, KSCM 33, TOP 09 26, ODS 16, UPD 14, KDU-CSL 14 Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 63, PiS 31, PSL 2, independents 4; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PO 39.2%, PiS 29.9%, RD 10%, PSL 8.4%, SLD 8.2%, other 4.3%; seats by party - PO 207, PiS 157, RD 40, PSL 28, SLD 27, German minorities 1
Legislative branch > Elections Senate - last held in two rounds on 12-13 and 19-20 October 2012 (next to be held in October 2014); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 25-26 October 2013 (next to be held in 2017) Senate - last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held by October 2015); Sejm - last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held by October 2015)
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index 10.17
Ranked 22nd.
13.11
Ranked 18th. 29% more than Czech Republic
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage 22%
Ranked 68th.
23.7%
Ranked 58th. 8% more than Czech Republic

Independence 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) 11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)
Executive branch > Election results Milos ZEMAN elected president; percent of popular vote - Milos ZEMAN 54.8%, Karel SCHWARZENBERG 45.2% Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI elected president; percent of popular vote - Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI 53%, Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI 47%
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts High Court; superior, regional, and district courts Constitutional Tribunal; regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts
Basis of executive legitimacy Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence
Transnational Issues > Illicit drugs transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime; significant consumer of ecstasy despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international information sharing on cross-border crimes, a major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe
Country name > Local short form Cesko Polska
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press 19
Ranked 167th.
25
Ranked 145th. 32% more than Czech Republic
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament 15.5%
Ranked 77th.
20.4%
Ranked 52nd. 32% more than Czech Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1 - Mala Strana Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 9
Ranked 44th. 2 times more than Poland
4
Ranked 152nd.

Democracy and rights > Nationalist vote 1.1%
Ranked 4th. 22 times more than Poland
0.05%
Ranked 14th.
Democracy > Civil and political liberties 5.5
Ranked 22nd. The same as Poland
5.5
Ranked 16th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ 27.72 billion$
Ranked 26th.
58.86 billion$
Ranked 18th. 2 times more than Czech Republic

National holiday Czech Founding Day, 28 October Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Capital > Geographic coordinates 50 05 N, 14 28 E 52 15 N, 21 00 E
Democracy > First female parliamentarian 1992 (elected) 1919 (elected)
Time required to start a business > Days 24 days
Ranked 122nd.
31 days
Ranked 98th. 29% more than Czech Republic

Leaders > President Milos Zeman Bronislaw Komorowski
Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment 0.984
Ranked 63th.
0.995
Ranked 44th. 1% more than Czech Republic

Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office Supreme Court judges proposed by the Chamber of Deputies and appointed by the president; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed for 10-year, renewable terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the president of the Court; judge term NA president of the Supreme Court nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court and selected by the president of Poland; other judges nominated by the 25-member National Judiciary Council, and appointed by the president of Poland; judges appointed until retirement, normally at age 65, but tenure can be extended
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index 8.19
Ranked 16th. 15% more than Poland
7.12
Ranked 31st.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient 4.4
Ranked 50th. 2% more than Poland
4.3
Ranked 57th.

Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Status Index 2006 9.23
Ranked 3rd. 4% more than Poland
8.9
Ranked 9th.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days 24
Ranked 119th.
35
Ranked 96th. 46% more than Czech Republic

Politics The appointment of a new Social Democrat-led government in January 2014 brought to an end a seven-month long power vacuum caused by the collapse of the previous centre-right government over a sleaze scandal Prime Minister Donald Tusk&#039;s governing coalition won a second term in October 2011
International law organization participation has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Parliament > Seats held by men 156
Ranked 61st.
351
Ranked 23th. 2 times more than Czech Republic

Country name > Local long form Ceska republika Rzeczpospolita Polska
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years 2.1
Ranked 97th.
3
Ranked 52nd. 43% more than Czech Republic

Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 0.856
Ranked 91st. 5 times more than Poland
0.156
Ranked 157th.

Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery None None
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone [420] 257 022 000 [48] (22) 504-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Norman L. EISEN (since 14 January 2011) Ambassador Stephen MULL
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Petr GANDALOVIC (since 23 May 2011) Ambassador Ryszard SCHNEPF
Parliament > Seats held by women 44
Ranked 54th.
109
Ranked 17th. 2 times more than Czech Republic

Leaders > President > Summary President Zeman has been accused of attempting to undermine the Czech parliamentary system President Komorowski was active in the civil rights movement in the 1970s
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel None
None
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating 9
Ranked 35th.
10
Ranked 1st. 11% more than Czech Republic
UN membership date 19 Jan. 1993 24 Oct. 1945
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people 0.779
Ranked 15th. 4 times more than Poland
0.185
Ranked 24th.
Total businesses registered > Number per 1000 227.87
Ranked 2nd. 2 times more than Poland
93.75
Ranked 9th.

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 33
Ranked 3rd. 83% more than Poland
18
Ranked 38th.

Capital city Prague Warsaw
Capital > Name Prague Warsaw
Legal origin <a href=/country/gm>German</a> <a href=/country/gm>German</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita 2,708.77$ per capita
Ranked 25th. 76% more than Poland
1,542.33$ per capita
Ranked 32nd.

Spending > Expense > Current LCU 1.26 trillion
Ranked 17th. 3 times more than Poland
449.26 billion
Ranked 35th.

Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days 279
Ranked 7th. 73% more than Poland
161
Ranked 25th.

Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout 57.9%
Ranked 121st. 25% more than Poland
46.2%
Ranked 139th.
Legislature (parliament) > People per member 37,283
Ranked 69th.
68,037
Ranked 48th. 82% more than Czech Republic
Capital > Time difference UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
International relations The Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004 but is outside the eurozone. Czech soldiers have taken part in coalition operations in Afghanistan The governing coalition seeks deeper EU integration, eventual euro membership. Poland is one of Europe&#039;s most pro-American countries
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million 26.53
Ranked 64th. 6 times more than Poland
4.41
Ranked 132nd.

Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members 200
Ranked 49th.
460
Ranked 20th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members 81
Ranked 28th.
100
Ranked 25th. 23% more than Czech Republic
Democracy > Female ministers 23.1%
Ranked 30th.
0.0
Ranked 113th.
Leaders > Head of state > Term limit for head of state 5
Ranked 68th. The same as Poland
5
Ranked 34th.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Israel notes Recognition extended under Czechoslovakia . Relations under Czechoslovakia were severed between June 1967 and February 1990. Diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic were established 1 January 1993. title=Poland Resumes Full Diplomatic Ties With Israel|url= http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/28/world/poland-resumes-full-diplomatic-ties-with-israel.html}} &lt;/ref&gt;
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days 611
Ranked 69th.
685
Ranked 51st. 12% more than Czech Republic

Democracy > Female parliamentarians 14.2%
Ranked 58th.
20.7%
Ranked 29th. 46% more than Czech Republic
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number 3
Ranked 167th.
6
Ranked 69th. Twice as much as Czech Republic

Leaders > President > Profile <p>Former prime minister Milos Zeman won the first direct Czech presidential election in January 2013, beating conservative Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg by a margin of 55% to 45%.</p> <p>Unlike his predecessor, the notoriously euro-sceptic Vaclav Klaus, Mr Zeman describes himself as a euro-federalist and is an advocate of closer European integration, though he believes that the Czech Republic should take its time over joining the euro.</p> <p>Like Mr Klaus, Mr Zeman thrives on confrontation and is keen to exercise his presidential powers to the full, even if this means entering into conflict with the Czech government.</p> <p>His appointment of a close ally, Jiri Rusnok, as prime minister following the resignation of Petr Necas in June 2013 met with the fierce opposition of the main political parties, who accused him of staging a power-grab.</p> <p>Mr Zeman&#039;s critics said that the move undermined democracy and accused him of trying to introduce a semi-presidential system, which one outgoing minister from the Necas government described as &quot;Putinesque&quot;. </p> <p>Mr Zeman effectively retired from politics in 2003, after failing to beat Mr Klaus in the election to succeed Vaclav Havel as president. Even his own Social Democratic party split over whether to back him. </p> <p>Political analysts attribute his spectacular comeback to his harnessing of discontent among older and poorer voters with the Necas government&#039;s handling of the economic downturn.</p> <p>In his younger days, he was frequently dismissed from various posts because of his criticism of the Communist system&#039;s economic failings, and played a prominent part in the Civic Forum movement that helped oust the pro-Soviet government in 1989. </p> <p>He rose to be Social Democratic prime minister in 1998-2002, but quit the party after his presidential election humiliation the following year. He now leads the small social-democratic Party of Civic Rights, which does not have any seats in parliament.</p> <p>Bronislaw Komorowski, the speaker of parliament, became acting president on the death of President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash in April 2010. He defeated Mr Kaczynski&#039;s twin brother and former prime minister, Jaroslaw, in the July second round of the presidential election.</p> <p>A leading figure in the centre-right Civic Platform party, Mr Komorowski has served in several post-Communist governments since 1989, including a term as defence minister in 2000-2001.</p> <p>He became speaker in 2007, and Civic Platform adopted him as its candidate for the presidential elections due in the autumn of 2010. These were brought forward to June-July on the death of President Kaczynski.</p> <p>Born in 1952 and an historian by profession, Mr Komorowski was active in the anti-Communist civil rights movement from the 1970s.</p>
Role of head of state Ceremonial Ceremonial
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita 2,708.31$
Ranked 25th. 76% more than Poland
1,542.32$
Ranked 32nd.

Democracy and rights > Nationalist party (percent of vote) 1.1%
Ranked 4th. 22 times more than Poland
0.05%
Ranked 14th.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 10
Ranked 67th. The same as Poland
10
Ranked 60th.

Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong 6
Ranked 70th.
9
Ranked 6th. 50% more than Czech Republic

Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million 0.418
Ranked 73th. 4 times more than Poland
0.112
Ranked 111th.

Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU 882.66 billion
Ranked 12th. 3 times more than Poland
309.36 billion
Ranked 26th.

Spending > Compensation of employees > Current LCU 105.76 billion
Ranked 30th. 93% more than Poland
54.7 billion
Ranked 40th.

Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for upper house members 6
Ranked 22nd. 50% more than Poland
4
Ranked 51st.
Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index > Management Index 2006 6.95
Ranked 10th. 9% more than Poland
6.36
Ranked 23th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP 0.223$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 25th. 15% more than Poland
0.194$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 38th.

Parliament > Seats held by women per million people 4.33
Ranked 76th. 52% more than Poland
2.84
Ranked 99th.

Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment March 2, 1994 November 25, 1959
Democracy > Female suffrage 1920 1918
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days 120
Ranked 122nd.
161
Ranked 77th. 34% more than Czech Republic

Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 2.57
Ranked 119th. 3 times more than Poland
0.856
Ranked 158th.

Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million 1.85
Ranked 97th. 2 times more than Poland
0.83
Ranked 128th.

Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million 2.28
Ranked 112th. 63% more than Poland
1.4
Ranked 134th.

Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 3.14
Ranked 72nd. 6 times more than Poland
0.493
Ranked 141st.

Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million 11.41
Ranked 114th. 3 times more than Poland
4.26
Ranked 152nd.

Capital > Daylight saving time +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Total businesses registered > Number > Per capita 227.99 per 1,000 people
Ranked 2nd. 2 times more than Poland
93.77 per 1,000 people
Ranked 9th.

Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU 44.2 billion
Ranked 25th. 53% more than Poland
28.86 billion
Ranked 31st.

Democracy and rights > Votes for nationalist parties 59,888
Ranked 31st. 6 times more than Poland
9,733
Ranked 38th.
Democracy > Bertelsmann Transformation Index>Political Transformation 9.45
Ranked 3rd. 3% more than Poland
9.2
Ranked 9th.
Foreign relations > Diplomatic representation in the US > Ambassador Kolář, Petr Petr Kolář Kupiecki, Robert Robert Kupiecki
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons per thousand people 0.143
Ranked 36th.
0.281
Ranked 34th. 97% more than Czech Republic
Transnational Issues > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Stateless persons 1,502
Ranked 35th.
10,825
Ranked 14th. 7 times more than Czech Republic
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita 1,347.67 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 23th. 38% more than Poland
978.22 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 27th.

Time required to build a warehouse > Days 271 days
Ranked 37th.
322 days
Ranked 19th. 19% more than Czech Republic

Failed States Index 39.9
Ranked 11th.
40.9
Ranked 10th. 3% more than Czech Republic
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population 7.83 million
Ranked 50th.
28.47 million
Ranked 24th. 4 times more than Czech Republic
Democracy > Female candidacy 1,920
Ranked 134th. About the same as Poland
1,918
Ranked 144th.
Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita 0.102 per 1,000 people
Ranked 32nd. 3 times more than Poland
0.03 per 1,000 people
Ranked 48th.

Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000 0.102
Ranked 33th. 3 times more than Poland
0.0302
Ranked 49th.

Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment January 1, 1993 April 11, 1992
National anthem > Name "Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?) "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Votes 12
Ranked 12th.
27
Ranked 5th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote 4.79 million
Ranked 49th.
13.56 million
Ranked 24th. 3 times more than Czech Republic
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration 8.26 million
Ranked 45th.
29.36 million
Ranked 21st. 4 times more than Czech Republic
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita 0.979 per 1 million people
Ranked 89th. 4 times more than Poland
0.262 per 1 million people
Ranked 137th.

Time required to enforce a contract > Days 820 days
Ranked 24th.
980 days
Ranked 16th. 20% more than Czech Republic

Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > European party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_%28politician%29">Independent</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Procedures to register property > Number 4
Ranked 133th.
6
Ranked 69th. 50% more than Czech Republic

Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 31
Ranked 6th. 24% more than Poland
25
Ranked 16th.

Council of EU > 2005 > Country votes 12
Ranked 12th.
27
Ranked 6th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
Date of transition to republican system of government > Republic since March 15, 1917 November 2, 1918
Diplomatic representation in the US > Consulate(s) general Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 0.974
Ranked 89th. 4 times more than Poland
0.262
Ranked 137th.

Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling Russia's action "an attack on the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia". Foreign Minister Rados\u0142aw Sikorski called for respect for Georgia's territorial integrity. The President of Poland Lech Kaczy\u0144ski said that the Russian decision violates international law and is an attempt to sanction the consequences of an "unprecedented aggression" by Russia against an independent Georgian state. Kaczy\u0144ski urged Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to "immediately withdraw all Russian troops from Georgia" and pledged his country's "unwavering support" for the Georgian people.
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Votes 12
Ranked 12th.
27
Ranked 5th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament 281
Ranked 42nd.
560
Ranked 23th. Twice as much as Czech Republic
Democracy and rights > Last election October 2013 October 2010
Leaders > Prime Minister > Profile <p>Social Democratic party leader Bohuslav Sobotka was formally appointed as prime minister by President Zeman in January 2014, almost three months after an early election in October 2013 that was triggered by the fall of the centre-right government led by Petr Necas in June.</p><p>Following the abrupt departure of Mr Necas - who had become embroiled in a spying, sex and bribery scandal - President Zeman appointed his former economic adviser, Jiri Rusnok, to head a government of experts.</p> <p>However, Mr Rusnok&#039;s administration was deeply resented by the main political parties, who contended that the president&#039;s action was intended to undermine the authority of parliament, and after the new caretaker government failed to win a confidence vote in August, MPs voted to dissolve parliament, paving the way for the October election.</p> <p>The Social Democrats emerged from these elections as the party with the greatest number of votes, but not enough to govern on its own. Following protracted efforts to assemble a viable government, the Social Democrats reached a framework coalition agreement with two other parties - the pro-business ANO party led by billionaire Andrej Babis and the Christian Democrats - in December.</p> <p>Talks on the allocation of ministerial portfolios were further complicated by President Zeman&#039;s insistence on being consulted, and by the fact that Mr Sobotka belongs to the Social Democrat faction that parted company with Mr Zeman in the early 2000s. </p> <p>Analysts attribute Mr Zeman&#039;s apparent foot-dragging over the confirmation of Mr Sobotka as prime minister to deep-rooted tensions between the two men.</p> <p>The normally mild-mannered Mr Sobotka stood his ground, declaring that he would be prepared to go to the constitutional court if the president attempted to block his cabinet appointments.</p> <p>He has also indicated that his government will prepare constitutional changes designed to curb the president&#039;s powers.</p> <p>On his appointment, Mr Sobotka pledged to end the political gridlock that had paralysed policy making for seven months and revive economic growth following the country&#039;s longest recession on record.</p> <p>He has promised to boost the economy by reversing what he has described as the former centre-right government&#039;s &quot;deadly spiral&quot; of austerity measures.</p> <p>However, his social spending plans may meet with opposition from the Social Democrats&#039; coalition partners.</p> <p>The new Czech prime minister is also keen for the country to play a fuller role in EU politics, after the eurosceptic course pursued by centre-right governments for most of the previous decade. </p> <p>Mr Sobotka was born in the Moravian village of Telnice in 1971. A trained lawyer, he has been a member of parliament since 1996 and served as finance minister in 2002-6. He joined the Social Democrats in 1989 and has led the party since 2011.</p> <p>The governing coalition led by Mr Tusk won a decisive victory in the October 2011 parliamentary election, putting him on course to serve a second term as prime minister.</p><p>His campaign had stressed his reputation as a safe pair of hands and a competent manager of the Polish economy.</p> <p>It was the first time an incumbent government was returned to office for another term since the reintroduction of democracy in 1989. Analysts said the result was a sign of Poland&#039;s growing political stability after two decades of fractious politics.</p> <p>Mr Tusk became PM when he formed a coalition between his centre-right Civic Platform and the centrist Peasants Party after the parliamentary elections of October 2007.</p> <p>The early elections were forced by the collapse of the right-wing coalition led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the identical twin of the then president Lech Kaczynski.</p> <p>In his first term, Mr Tusk&#039;s government pursued a policy of close cooperation with the European Union. It also sought to use EU funds modernise Poland and privatise state enterprises.</p> <p>Mr Tusk advocates deeper EU integration and eventual euro membership for Poland.</p>
Trademarks > Nonresidents 1,042
Ranked 30th.
1,153
Ranked 24th. 11% more than Czech Republic

Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue 3.62%
Ranked 53th.
6.96%
Ranked 35th. 92% more than Czech Republic

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU 663855000000 190411700000
Parliamentary republic adoption date 1993 1990
Democracy and rights > Next election October 2017 October 2015
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense 70.1%
Ranked 9th. 2% more than Poland
68.86%
Ranked 13th.

Foreign relations > Date of recognition of State of Palestine 18 November 1988 14 December 1988
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > % 19.5%
Ranked 89th.
23.7%
Ranked 64th. 22% more than Czech Republic

Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million 58.11
Ranked 98th. 3 times more than Poland
17.77
Ranked 149th.

Council of Europe > Date joined 6/30/1993 11/26/1991
Parties in the European Council during 2006 > Leaders > January 1 > 2006 > Votes 12
Ranked 11th.
27
Ranked 5th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours 930 hours
Ranked 10th. 5 times more than Poland
175 hours
Ranked 114th.

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ 13.79 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 33th.
37.33 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 17th. 3 times more than Czech Republic

Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Leader Stanislav Gross Marek Belka
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita 3.03 per 1 million people
Ranked 69th. 5 times more than Poland
0.656 per 1 million people
Ranked 129th.

Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > National party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Democratic_Party_%28Czech_Republic%29">ODS</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Platform">PO</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > National party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_%28politician%29">Independent</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Platform">PO</a>
Council of EU > 2006 > Country votes 12
Ranked 12th.
27
Ranked 6th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > European party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_European_Reform">MER</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_People%27s_Party">EPP</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2007 > Leaders > January 1 > 2007 > European party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_European_Reform">MER</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_for_Europe_of_the_Nations">AEN</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2009 > Leaders > January 1 > 2009 > Leader Mirek TopolÇ­nek Donald Tusk
Parties in the European Council during 2008 > Leaders > January 1 > 2008 > Votes 12
Ranked 12th.
27
Ranked 5th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
National anthem > Note adopted 1993; the anthem is a verse from the former Czechoslovak anthem originally written as part of the opera "Fidlovacka" adopted 1927; the anthem, commonly known as "Jeszcze Polska nie zginela" (Poland Has Not Yet Perished), was written in 1797; the lyrics resonate strongly with Poles because they reflect the numerous occasions in which the nation's lands have been occupied
Flag description > Note is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 27
Ranked 180th.
33
Ranked 145th. 22% more than Czech Republic

Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.285
Ranked 124th. 83% more than Poland
0.156
Ranked 150th.

Red tape > Management time dealing with officials > % of management time 10.4%
Ranked 19th.
12.8%
Ranked 12th. 23% more than Czech Republic

Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX [1] (202) 966-8540 [1] (202) 328-6271
Council of EU > 2007 > Country votes 12
Ranked 13th.
27
Ranked 6th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU 532242000000 173819500000
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > European party <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Parties in the European Council during 2005 > Leaders > January 1 > 2005 > Votes 12
Ranked 11th.
27
Ranked 5th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita 1,347.45 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 23th. 38% more than Poland
978.22 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 27th.

Council of EU > 2005 > Country leader Stanislav Gross Marek Belka
Trademarks > Residents > Per capita 0.918 per 1,000 people
Ranked 10th. 3 times more than Poland
0.361 per 1,000 people
Ranked 34th.

Council of EU > 2007 > Country leader Mirek Topolanek Jarosław Kaczyński
Spending > Other expense > Current LCU 154.17 billion
Ranked 12th. 5 times more than Poland
33.28 billion
Ranked 28th.

Parties in the European Council during 2010 > Leaders > 1 January 2010 > Leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Fischer_%28Czech_politician%29">Jan Fischer</a> Donald Tusk
Parties in the European Council during 2011 > Leaders > 1 January 2011 > Leader Petr NeŽas Donald Tusk
Time to resolve insolvency > Years 9.2 years
Ranked 3rd. 3 times more than Poland
3 years
Ranked 65th.

General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth 0.66%
Ranked 93th.
4.8%
Ranked 39th. 7 times more than Czech Republic

Time required to register property > Days 123 days
Ranked 34th.
197 days
Ranked 19th. 60% more than Czech Republic

FAX > Consulate(s) general Los Angeles, New York Krakow
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 2.04
Ranked 114th. 90% more than Poland
1.07
Ranked 133th.

Spending > Expense > % of GDP 34.13%
Ranked 28th.
35.3%
Ranked 23th. 3% more than Czech Republic

Informal payments to public officials > % of firms 8.73%
Ranked 38th. 76% more than Poland
4.95%
Ranked 45th.

Spending > Compensation of employees > % of expense 8.4%
Ranked 82nd.
12.18%
Ranked 74th. 45% more than Czech Republic

Parliament > Seats held by men per million people 15.35
Ranked 94th. 68% more than Poland
9.14
Ranked 121st.

Council of EU > 2005 > European party of leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_European_Socialists">PES</a>
Council of EU > 2007 > European party of leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_European_Reform">MER</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_for_Europe_of_the_Nations">AEN</a>
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000 766.87
Ranked 27th. 3% more than Poland
745.18
Ranked 37th.
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 21
Ranked 151st.
41
Ranked 45th. 95% more than Czech Republic

Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo None
None
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members 4
Ranked 133th. The same as Poland
4
Ranked 106th.
Foreign relations > Diplomatic relations with Palestine Yes Yes
Leaders > Prime Minister > Summary Mr Sobotka has vowed to reverse the eurosceptic course of previous Czech governments Donald Tusk is serving his second term as premier
Leaders > Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka Donald Tusk
European Union > Council of the European Union votes 12
Ranked 13th.
27
Ranked 6th. 2 times more than Czech Republic
Trademarks > Residents 9,365
Ranked 15th.
13,776
Ranked 12th. 47% more than Czech Republic

Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita 0.391 per 1 million people
Ranked 107th. 2 times more than Poland
0.157 per 1 million people
Ranked 135th.

Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita 2.06 per 1 million people
Ranked 113th. 91% more than Poland
1.08 per 1 million people
Ranked 133th.

Spending > Goods and services expense > Current LCU 72.37 billion
Ranked 32nd. 2 times more than Poland
34.46 billion
Ranked 39th.

Republic establishment date October 18, 1918 November 14, 1918
Management time dealing with officials > % of management time 2.08%
Ranked 35th.
3.83%
Ranked 17th. 84% more than Czech Republic
Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX [420] 257 022 809 [48] (22) 504-2688
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Invalid votes 0.4%
Ranked 105th.
4%
Ranked 30th. 10 times more than Czech Republic
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone [1] (202) 274-9100 [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
Capital city > Time difference UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Spending > Goods and services expense > % of expense 5.75%
Ranked 82nd.
7.67%
Ranked 75th. 33% more than Czech Republic

Policy uncertainty > % of managers surveyed ranking this as a major business constraint 21.7%
Ranked 20th.
39.9%
Ranked 5th. 84% more than Czech Republic
Spending > Interest payments > % of expense 3.51%
Ranked 57th.
6.42%
Ranked 35th. 83% more than Czech Republic

Spending > Other expense > % of expense 12.24%
Ranked 16th. 65% more than Poland
7.41%
Ranked 29th.

Trademarks > Residents per million 916.7
Ranked 10th. 3 times more than Poland
360.8
Ranked 34th.

Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.39
Ranked 107th. 2 times more than Poland
0.157
Ranked 135th.

Ruling party Civic Democratic Party Civic Platform
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 3.02
Ranked 67th. 5 times more than Poland
0.655
Ranked 127th.

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; Wikipedia: List of national legal systems (Civil law); World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).; Wikipedia: List of countries by system of government (Alphabetical list of countries); All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; World Development Indicators database; Wikipedia: Censorship by country (Censorship by country) ("Press Freedom Index 2013" , Reporters Without Borders, 30 January 2013); United Nations Statistics Division; "2012 Freedom of the Press Data" , Freedom House, 1 May 2012; Wikipedia: List of active nationalist parties in Europe (National); Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2000-2001, New York: Freedom House, 2001; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 1995. Women in Parliaments 1945-1995: A World Statistical Survey. Geneva and IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. 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Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; World Development Indicators database. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files.; Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2003; Wikipedia: List of legislatures by number of members; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2001. Correspondence on women in government at the ministerial level. March. Geneva; Wikipedia: Term of office (Terms of office by country); calculated on the basis of data on parliamentary seats from IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 2002. Parline Database. March 2002; World Economic Forum, Global Competiveness Report and data files. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: Foreign relations of Nepal; IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 1995. 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Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; Wikipedia: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Indicators) ("The Failed States Index 2013" . The Fund for Peace . July 2013 . 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