A president is the highest official in Macedonia and is elected by the people to a four-year term. The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, the nation's lawmaking body, consists of 120 members who are elected by the people to four-year terms. The president plays a leading role in establishing foreign policy. The Assembly must approve the appointment. The country is divided into districts called opstini for purposes of local government.
Local assemblies govern opstini.
Flag of Macedonia Macedonia's highest court is the Supreme Court. The Assembly appoints justices of the Supreme Court. About 9,000 men and women serve in Macedonia's armed forces. About two-thirds of the people are Macedonian Slavs. About a fifth are Albanians, most of whom live in western Macedonia.