Since gaining independence from Britain in 1968, Mauritius has maintained one of the developing world s most successful democracies. In 1993, the island became a republic within the British Commonwealth, with a largely ceremonial president as head of state. Since independence, Mauritius has regularly chosen its representatives in free, fair, and competitive elections. The unicameral National Assembly includes 62 directly elected members and the attorney general, if he is not already an elected member. Only four of eight best loser seats that may be awarded to redress inadequacies in party or ethnic representation are currently assigned.
Decentralized structures govern the country s island dependencies.
The largest of these is Rodrigues Island, which has its own government, local councils, and two seats in the National Assembly. The generally independent judiciary is headed by a Supreme Court. The legal system is an amalgam of French and British traditions. Civil rights are generally well respected, although cases of police brutality have been reported. Freedom of religion is respected.