At stake in this Referendum:

• The referendum will ask voters to decide on a new constitution which will institute a presidential regime in the Republic of Congo.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
• Head of Government: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
• Assembly: Congo (Brazzaville) has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate with 66 seats and the National Assembly with 137 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 7-year term.
• In the Senate (Sénat) 66 members are indirectly elected by regional governing councils to serve 6-year terms*. In the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) 137 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Referendum on constitution -Direct election of a president to a seven-year term, renewable only once. All executive power will reside with the president.
  -Establishment of a bicameral parliament with a National Assembly and Senate.
  -Establishment of several requirements for presidential candidates: Congolese nationality, between 40-70 years of age, and permanent resident in Congo for a period of 24 months leading up to the registration.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 3,256,867 (2002)
• Registered Voters: 1,701,415 (2002)

​Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 1,630,736 (2002)

·         Is Republic of Congo a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (29 July 1980)

·         Has Republic of Congo ratified CEDAW: Yes (26 July 1982)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 12 (National Assembly) (following 2002 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 136 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Republic of Congo a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Republic of Congo ratified CRPD: Yes (2 September 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 488,530 (est.)