Question: What kind of government does Laos have?

Politics of Laos










Laos
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Ideology
Collective leadership
Marxism–Leninism
Constitution
People's Revolutionary Party
Congress (10th)
Central Committee
Gen. Secretary: B. Vorachith
Politburo (10th)
Executive Committee
Exec. Secretary: P. Viphavanh
Commission for Inspection
Chairman: B. Chitmany
Legislature
National Assembly
Standing Committee
Chairman: Pany Yathotou
Executive
President
Bounnhang Vorachith
Vice President
Phankham Viphavanh
Prime Minister
Thongloun Sisoulith
Deputy Prime Ministers
Bounthong Chitmany
Sonexay Siphandon
Somdy Duangdy
Mass organizations
Front for National Construction
Standing Committee
Chairman: P. Vongsa
Youth Union
Central Committee
Gen. Secretary: S. Thammavong
MilitaryDefense
Lao People's Army
Head: B. Vorachith
Ministry of Defense
Minister: C. Chanyalath
Foreign relations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister: Saleumxay Kommasith

Diplomatic missions of / in Laos

Passport
Visa requirements
Visa policy
Judiciary
Supreme People's Court
Supreme Public Procuracy
Related topics
Elections
Administrative divisions (provincesdistricts) 
Human rights
LGBT rights
Committee for Independence and
Democracy (CIDL)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Laosportal 
Other countries
Atlas
vt
The politics of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (commonly known as Laos) takes place in the framework of a one-party socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The de jure head of state is President Bounnhang Vorachith, who also is LPRP general secretary making him the de facto leader of Laos.
The head of government is Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. Government policies are determined by the party through the all-powerful nine-member Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 49-member Central Committee. Important government decisions are vetted by the Council of Ministers.
The FY 2000 central government budget plan called for revenue of $180 million and expenditures of $289 million, including capital expenditures of $202 million.
Political culture
Laos' first, French-written and monarchical constitution was promulgated on May 11, 1947 and declared it to be an independent state within the French Union. The revised constitution of May 11, 1957, omitted reference to the French Union, though close educational, health and technical ties with the former colonial power persisted. The 1957 document was abrogated on December 3, 1975, when a communist People's Republic was proclaimed.
A new constitution was adopted in 1991 and enshrined a "leading role" for the LPRP. The following year, elections were held for a new 85-seat National Assembly with members elected by secret ballot to five-year terms. This National Assembly, which essentially acts as a rubber stamp for the LPRP, approves all new laws, although the executive branch retains authority to issue binding decrees.
The most recent elections took place in April 2006. The assembly was expanded to 99 members in 1997 and in 2006 elections had 115.
Insurgency

In the early 2000s, bomb attacks against the government occurred, coupled with small exchanges of fire, across Laos.[1] A variety of different groups have claimed responsibility including the Committee for Independence and Democracy in Laos and Lao Citizens Movement for Democracy.
Executive branch


The president is elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term. The prime minister and the Council of Ministers are appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term.
There are also four deputy prime ministers. As of a cabinet reshuffle on June 8, 2006, they are Maj. Gen. Douangchay Phichit (also defense minister), Thongloun Sisoulith (also foreign minister), Somsavat Lengsavad and Maj. Gen. Asang Laoly.
The 28-member cabinet also includes Onechanh Thammavong as labour minister, Chaleuan Yapaoher as justice minister, Nam Vignaket as industry and commerce minister, Sitaheng Latsaphone as agriculture minister and Sommath Pholsena as transport minister.
Legislative branch
The National Assembly (Sapha Heng Xat) has 149 members (144 are LPRP, 5 independants), elected for a five-year term.
Political parties and elections



Judicial branch
The President of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee. The Vice President of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee.
As for the legal profession, there are 188 lawyers in Laos who are members of the Laos Bar Association according to a 2016 article. However, most of the attorneys have entered the government sector and do not practice law—seldom giving thought to practicing in the private sector.[2] While there is evidence of female lawyers in Laos, there is no indication as to how women have fared in the legal field. 

Government
Agriculture and Forestry	Lien Thikeo
Education and Sports 	Sengdeuan Lachanthaboun
Energy and Mines	Khammany Inthilath
Finance	Lien Thikeo
Foreign Affairs	Saleumxay Kommasith
Home Affairs (Interior)	Khammanh Sounvileuth
Industry and Commerce	Khemmani Pholsena

Information, Culture and Tourism	Bosengkham Vongdara
Justice	Saysi Santhivong
Labour and Social Welfare	Khampheng Saysompheng
Minister of Post, Telecom and Communications	Thansamay Kommasith
National Defense	Chansamone Chanyalath
Natural Resources and Environment	Sommath Pholsena
Planning and Investment	Souphanh Keomixay
Public Health	Bounkong Sihavong
Public Security	Brigadier General Somkeo Silavong
Public Works and Transport	Bounchanh Sinthavong
Science and Technology	Boviengkham Vongdara
Presidential Palace Office
Phongsavath Boupha, Minister to Presidential Palace’s Office
PM Office
Sonxay Siphandone, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Head of the government Secretariat committee
Bounpheng Mounphosay, Minister to Prime Minister’s Office, Head the Public Administration and Civil Service Authority (PACSA)
Bounheuang Douangphachanh, Minister to the Prime Minister’s office, Chairman of the National Steering Committee for Rural Development and Poverty Reduction
Dr Douangsavath Souphanouvong, Minister to Prime Minister’s Office
Dr Bounteim Phitsamai, Minister to Prime Minister's Office
Khempheng Pholsena, Minister to Prime Minister’s Office
Phupeth Khamphounvong, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office
Somphao Phaysith, Governor of Lao PDR Central Bank
National Assembly (April 2016)
President of the National Assembly: Pany Yathotou (re-elected)
Vice-President of the National Assembly: Somphanh Phengkhammy (re-elected), Sengnouan Sayalath, Bounpone Bouttanavong and Sisay Leudethmounsone
People's Supreme Court
President of People's Supreme Court: Khamphanh Sithidampha
Supreme People’s Prosecutor: Khamsane Souvong
Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party:
Lt. Gen. Choummaly Sayasone, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Thongsing Thammavong, Prime Minister (since 23 December 2010)
Colonel Bounnhang Vorachith, Vice President of Lao People's Democratic Republic, Standing Member of the Secretariat
Pany Yathotou, Chairwoman of the National Assembly (since 23 December 2010)
Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of the Party's National External Relations Committee
Maj. Gen. Asang Laoly, Deputy Prime Minister
Lt. Gen. Douangchay Phichith, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence (died in 2014)
Somsavat Lengsavad, Deputy Prime Minister
Dr. Bounthong Chitmany, Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Inspection, Chairman of the State Inspection Committee.
Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong, Deputy Prime Minister
Dr. Phankham Viphavanh, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Sports
Secretariat of the Party Central Committee:
Lt. Gen. Choummaly Sayasone
Bounnhang Vorachit (PCC Standing Secretariat)
Dr Bounthong Chitmany, Chairman of the Commission for Inspection, Chairman of the State Inspection Committee
Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong, Head of Lao Party Central Office, Deputy Prime Minister
Dr Thongban Seng-aphone, Minister of Public Security (died in 2014)
Chansy Phosikham, Head of the Party's Central Organisation Commission
Soukan Mahalath, Secretary of the Vientiane City Party Committee, Vientiane Mayor (died in 2014)
Lt. Gen. Sengnuan Xayalath, Acting Minister of National Defense (June 2014)
Cheuang Sombounkhanh, Head of the Central Propaganda and Training Commission (died in 2014)
Inspection Committee of the Party Central Committee
Bounthong Chitmany (President)
Thongsy Ouanlasy
Sinay Mienglavanh
Khamsuan Chanthavong
Thongsouk Bounyavong
Singphet Bounsavatthiphan
Bounpone Sangsomsak
Party Central Committee Advisor: Khamtai Siphandon
Administrative divisions

Laos is divided into 17 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* ( nakhon luang vientiane, singular and plural):

Attapu, Bokeo, Borikhamxay, Champassack, Houaphan, Khammouane, Louang Namtha, Luangphabang, Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Saravane, Savannakhet, Saysomboune, Sekong, Vientiane*, Vientiane, Sayaboury, Xieng Khouang.