Government
Until 1990, Nepal was an absolute monarchy running under the executive
control of the king. Faced with a people's movement against the absolute monarchy,
King Birendra, in 1990, agreed to large-scale political reforms by creating a parliamentary
monarchy with the king as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of
the government.
Nepal's legislature was bicameral consisting of a House of Representatives
and a National Council. The House of Representatives consists of 205 members directly
elected by the people. The National Council had 60 members, 10 nominated by the
king, 35 elected by the House of Representatives and the remaining 15 elected by
an electoral college made up of chairs of villages and towns. The legislature had
a five-year term, but was dissolvable by the king before its term could end. All
Nepalese citizens 18 years and older became eligible to vote.
The executive comprised the King and the Council of Ministers (the
Cabinet). The leader of the coalition or party securing the maximum seats in an
election was appointed as the Prime Minister. The Cabinet was appointed by the king
on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Governments in Nepal have tended to
be highly unstable; no government has survived for more than two years since 1991,
either through internal collapse or parliamentary dissolution by the monarch.
The April movement of 2006 brought about a change in the nation. The
autocratic King was forced to give up power. The dissolved House of Representatives
was restored. The House of Representatives formed a government which had successful
peace talks with the Maoist Rebels. An interim constitution was promulgated and
an interim House of Representatives was formed with Maoist members. The number of
seats were also increased to 330.