1. Afghan Government
According to the constitution of Afghanistan, the country is “an Islamic Republic, independent, unitary and indivisible state”..
Mohammad Daud
The first Afghan president
Abolished monarchy
Laid the foundation of the republican system of government
Called “Republic of Afghanistan”
Official Name:
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
According to the constitution of Afghanistan, the country is “an Islamic Republic, independent, unitary and indivisible state”. Mohammad Daud, the first Afghan president, abolished monarchy and laid the foundation of the republican system of government in Afghanistan, where the head of state is not a monarch and the people (or at least a part of its people) have an impact on its government.
Under Mohammad Daud’s rein, it was called Republic of Afghanistan in large part to his seculariism.
Today, the full name of Afghanistan is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan reflecting the increased importance of religion in the government since Daud.
Portrait of Mohammad Daud during his funeral

2. Branches of Afghan Government
Executive
Daily administration of the state bureaucracy
Judicial
Courts that interpret and apply the laws
The Afghan government is divided into the following three branches:
Executive
Judicial
Legislative
**We will briefly talk about each of these three branches separately, starting from the national level down to the local level because the strong top-down, vertical style of governance found in Afghanistan. Note which positions are elected, which are appointed, which require cooperation from local leaders, and the current events in Afghan politics.
Legislative
Assembly to pass, amend and repeal laws.

3. Executive Branch National (1) Provincial (34) District (398)
President, VP, & Cabinet
Provincial (34)
Governors
We will begin by talking about the executive branch in the Afghan government, starting with the national then moving into the local
District (398)
Governors

4. The National Executive Branch
President
Elected Current - Hamid Karzai
1. Vice - President
2. Vice –
President
The executive branch of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan includes the following:
President
Vice-presidents
The cabinet with 25 ministries
The president and the vice presidents are directly elected by the people of Afghanistan whereas the cabinet is
appointed by the president and approved by the Wolesi Jirga (the lower house of the National Assembly), a legislative branch which we will talk about a little later.
Elected
Current - Qasim Fahim
Elected
Current - Karim Khalili
25 Cabinet Ministers
Appointed by President
Approved by Wolesi Jirga (Lower House)

5. Presidential Qualifications
Afghan citizen
No citizenship of another country
Muslim
Born of Afghan parents
At least forty years of age upon declaring candidacy
Presidential candidates in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan must:
Be an Afghan citizen
They must Not have citizenship of another country
Be a Muslim
Be born of Afghan parents, and
Be at least forty years of age upon declaring candidacy
Although there are other qualifications to be president, these five are the most fundamental.
Voting in Afghanistan

6. President Hamid Karzai
First elected president in November 2004
Declared President by the Afghan election commission
November 02, 2009
Opponent withdrew from a run-off vote
Second 5-year term
The President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is Hamid Karzai. Karzai was first elected President in November He was declared president for a second 5-year term by the Afghan Independent Election Commission on November 2nd, 2009 after his opponent withdrew from a run-off vote

7. Two Elected Vice-Presidents
Mohammad Qasim Fahim
An ethnic Tajik from the northern Panjsher province
Abdul Karim Khalili
An ethnic Hazara from Wardak province
1st Vice - President
2nd Vice–
President
There are two elected vice-presidents in the Afghan government.
Mohammad Qasim Fahim, an ethnic Tajik from the northern Panjsher province, is the 1st Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Abdul Karim Khalili, an ethnic Hazara from Wardak province of Afghanistan, is the 2nd Vice President of Afghanistan.
The qualifications of a vice presidential candidate are similar to those of the presidential candidate.
Mohammad Qasim Fahim (left) Hamid Karzai (middle) Abdul Karim Khalili (right)

8. Ethnicity and Elections
Most Afghans tend to vote along ethnic lines
The president of Afghanistan has almost always been a Pashtun
Hamid Karzai is an ethnic Pashtun
The two new vice presidents are Tajik and Hazara ethnicities.
Man passing by pictures of presidential candidates
Most Afghans vote along the ethnic lines because of extreme tensions and distrust amongst the main ethnic groups such as Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara and Uzbek.
The president of Afghanistan has always been a Pashtun with the exception of Burhanuddin Rabbani and rulers before the republic government was formed.
Hamid Karzai is an ethnic Pashtun from the Kandahar province.
The two new vice presidents of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan are from Tajik and Hazara ethnicities.
Pashtuns, Uzbeks & Turkmen, Tajiks, Hazaras, Nuristanis, etc.

9. 25 ministries in the cabinet Headed by the president
Cabinet of Ministers
25 ministries in the cabinet
Headed by the president
Ministers are appointed by the president and approved by the Wolesi Jirga
More ministers can be added with the approval of the National Assembly
Cabinet of Ministers
There are presently 24 ministries in the cabinet headed by the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Ministers are appointed by the president and approved by the Wolesi Jirga, or the lower house. More ministers can be added with the approval of the National Assembly.

10. Cabinet of Ministers Qualifications
Afghan citizen
At least 35 years of age
Have higher education
Ministers can have citizenship of another country
Candidates for the ministerial position must:
Be an Afghan citizen
Be at least 35 years of age
Have higher education
Amongst other qualifications
Ministers, unlike the president and vice presidents, can have citizenship of another country, but the Wolesi Jirga has the right approve or reject a minister appointee with dual citizenship.
Now, we will shift from the national executive branch to the provincial and district executive branch in Afghanistan. Note the role and influence of local leaders, such as Mullahs.

11. Executive at local level
Provincial Governor
One per province or Welayat
There are 34 provinces
District Governor
Provinces are divided into districts or Walaswalai
There are a total of 398 districts
Provinces and Districts each have a capital cities and police forces.
The executive branch of the government is led by the provincial governor in each province or Welayat.
There are 34 provinces.
The province is divided into much smaller administrative units called Walaswalai , or district.
There are a total of 398 districts.
Each province has a district and provincial capital

12. Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)
August 30, Presidential Decree
Responsible for the supervision of Provincial and District Governors and Councils and Municipalities
Goals
Strengthen government institutions at the sub-national level
Ensure people’s participation in governance
Eliminate discrimination against women
Achieve measurable improvements in the delivery of services and the protection of rights of all Afghans
Eliminate corruption in the public and private sector
President
IDLG
A presidential decree on August 30, 2007 declared Independent Directorate of Local Governance as responsible for the supervision of Provincial Governors, District Governors, Provincial Councils and Municipalities except Kabul.
Independent Directorate of Local Governance was created to:
-Strengthen government institutions at the sub-national level
-Ensure people’s participation in governance
-Eliminate discrimination against women
-Achieve measurable improvements in the delivery of services and the protection of rights of all Afghans
-Eliminate corruption in the public and private sector
…amongst other goals.
District Governors
Provincial Governors
District Councils
Provincial Council

13. Directs provincial police chief and district governors
Provincial Governor
Provincial governor - Waalee
Appointed by the President
Responsible to the Independent Directorate of Local Governance
Directs provincial police chief and district governors
Provincial governor or Waalee is appointed by the President and is responsible to him through Independent Directorate of Local Governance )IDLG).
Each provincial ministry director, provincial police chief and district governors report to the governor as well as their respective bosses in the Central Government.
Meet the press

14. Provincial Governor and Village Leaders
Mullahs – Islamic Scholar
Maleks – Tribal Leader
Village Elders
A lot of influence with the governor
Regularly meet with the governor
Governors - Depend greatly on the cooperation of elders at the village level.
Village elders also play a crucial role in local law enforcement
Village elders, like Maleks and Mullahs, wield a lot of influence with the provincial governor.
These village elders and Maleks regularly sit with the governor and discuss important current issues. The governors, for their part, depend greatly on the cooperation of elders at the village level.
A lot of provinces have no police or other law enforcement bodies at the village level, so the provincial government has to rely on heavily on village elders, Maleks, Mullahs, etc. to fill this role.
Meeting of village leaders

15. District Courts and Council
District Governor
District governor - Walaswal
Appointed by IDLG with the coordination of the provincial governor.
Reports to the provincial governor
Provincial Governor
Police Chief
Ministry Directors
District Governor
District Courts and Council
The District governor or Walaswal is recommended by IDLG in coordination with the provincial governor. The district governor reports directly to the provincial governor.
District governor directs district directorates of ministries, the police chief and works with district councils as well the district courts, which are two district bodies of legislative and judicial branches.
Inauguration event for district building.

16. District Governor and Village Elders
District governors have a close relationship with the community
District governors have regular meetings with local leaders
District governors also lead local Jirgas.
District governors rely heavily on the power of local elders
The district governor is the closest person to villagers, the elders, Maleks, Mullahs, etc.
District governor have regular meetings with local leaders about various issues. District governors also head local Jirgas, which requires a lot of interaction with village elders..
District governors, just like the provincial governors, rely heavily on the power and cooperation of local elders.
Meeting of village elders

17. Wolesi Jirga & De Mishrano Jirga
Legislative Branch
National (2)
Wolesi Jirga & De Mishrano Jirga
Provincial (34)
Provincial Council
We will now turn our attention to the legislative branch in the Afghan government, also called the National Assembly, beginning with the national and moving to the local.
District (398)
District Council

18. Legislative Branch National Assembly Wolesi Jirga House of People
The lower house of the national assembly
Headed by Yunis Qanuni
De Mishrano Jirga
House of Elders
The upper house of the national assembly.
Headed by Sibghatullah Mujadidi
Yunis Qanuni
The Legislative branch, or the National Assembly, is divided into two houses:
Wolesi Jirga, or the House of People, is the lower house of the national assembly. The Wolesi Jirga is headed by Yunis Qanuni.
De Mishrano Jirga, or the House of Elders, is the upper house of the national assembly. The De Mishrano Jirga is headed by Sibghatullah Mujadidi.
Sibghatullah Mujadidi

19. Election of Legislators - Wolesi Jirga
Lower House of Representatives
Currently seats
Elected through free and direct elections
Legislators are elected to the Wolesi Jirga, or the lower house of representatives, through free and direct elections. There are altogether 249 seats in the Wolesi Jirga.

20. Legislative Elections - De Meshrani Jirga
Upper House Representative
One third: Provincial councils
Elected
Four years term
One-third: District councils
Three year term
One-third: Appointed
Appointed by President and experts
Two representatives from the disabled and impaired
Two representatives from the Kochis
50% women
Five year terms
One hundred and two legislators are either elected or appointed to De Meshrani Jirga, or the upper house.
One third of the representatives are elected from provincial councils. The council elects one person for a period of four years.
B) One-third are elected from among the district councils of provinces. The councils elect one person each for a period of three years.
C) One-third are appointed by the President from among experts and experienced personalities – including two representatives from the disabled and impaired and two representatives from the Kochis – appoints the remaining one-third of the members for a period of five years. The president appoints 50% of these people from among women.

21. Legislative at the local level
Provincial councils
District councils
Provincial councilmen
Represent their constituencies at the provincial level
Work closely with the local government
In 2009 there were no elections for the district councils
Two were elected by all the members of the provincial council to De Meshrano Jirga
There are provincial councils in the provinces as well as district councils at the district level.
Provincial councilmen represent their constituencies at the provincial level and work closely with the local government.
This year there were no elections for the district councils so instead of electing one councilman from each province, two were elected by all the members of the provincial council to De Meshrano Jirga.

22. Two Local Examples Helmand and Kandahar
Now, lets take a look at the structure of the governments in Helmand and Kandahar province

23. Helmand Province Southern Province Population of 1,441, 769
Capital - Lashkargah
13 main districts
Deshu
Garmser
Reg
Nad Ali
Nawai Barakzai
Lashkargah
Nahrisarraj
Sangeen
Washer
Nawzad
Musa Qala
Baghran
Kajaki
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan with a population of about 1.5 million.
It has 13 districts which are Deshu, Garmser, Reg, Nad Ali, Nawai Barakzai, Lashkargah, Nahrisarraj, Sangeen, Washer, Nawzad, Musa Qala, Baghran, and Kajaki.
In the following slides you will see Helmand’s local government

24. Helmand Province: Executive
Provincial Governor
Mohammad Gulab Mangal
AKA. Gulabuddin Mangal
Deputy governor
Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal.
Provincial police chief
Asadullah Sherzad
Lashkargah Mayor
Mohammad Dawood.
Ministry Branches
Province - (Riyasat, pl. riyasatoona)
Districts - (moderiat, pl. –oona)
Provincial Governor
Provincial police chief
Deputy governor
Mayor of the Capital
The governor of Helmand is at the top of the local government. Mohammad Gulab Mangal, aka Gulabuddin Mangal, is the governor of Helmand province with a deputy governor, Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal.
The provincial police chief of Helmand province is Asadullah Sherzad and Lashkargah Mayor is Mohammad Dawood.
Depending on the province, there are branches of government ministries in the capitals of the provinces called (Riyasat, pl. riyasatoona) and in the districts called (moderiat, pl. –oona).

25. Helmand Province: Executive Cont’d
Heads of the directorates and district
governors report to Gulab Mangal.
Hajj and Religious Affairs
Mukkhtar Ahmad
Culture and Information
Alishah Mazloomyar
Education
Sherin Agha
National Security
Dr. Mohammad Naeem
Some district governors
Habibullah of Nad Ali
Fazl-ul Haq of Sangin
Masood of Khanishin
Mullah Abdul Salam of Musa Qala
Provincial Governor
Provincial police chief
Deputy governor
District governors
Heads of ministries
Mayor of the Capital
The heads of these directorates report to Gulab Mangal.
Some of these directorates are Hajj and Religious Affairs headed by Mukkhtar Ahmad, Culture and Information headed by Alishah Mazloomyar, Education headed by Sherin Agha, National Security by Dr Mohd Naeem and more.
District governors also report to the provincial governor. Some of the district governors for instance, are, Habibullah of Nad Ali, Fazl-ul Haq of Sangin, Masood of Khanishin and Mullah Abdul Salam of Musa Qala districts.

26. Helmand Province: Legislative
Fourteen members in Helmand’s provincial council
Headed by Mohammad Anwar
Provincial council members
Based in the capital: Lashkargah
Work with the local government
Represent their constituencies
There is a provincial council in Helmand consisting of fourteen members headed by Mohammad Anwar.
Some of the other members of the council are Haji Talib, Haji Toor Khan, Haji Mohammad Gul, Haji Mohammad Naeem, and some women such as Salima Sharifi, Razia Baluch and Reza Gul.
These provincial council members are based in the provincial capital, Lashka Gah, and work with the local government representing their constituencies from different districts.

27. Kandahar Province Southern province Population of 913, 900
Capital – Kandahar City
Kandahar’s Districts
Arghandab, Arghistan, Daman, Dand, Ghorak, Kandahar, Khakrez, Maruf, Maywand, Mianishin, Nesh, Panjwaye, Reg (Registan), Shah Wali Kot, Shorabak, Spin Boldak, Takhta Pul, Zharai
Kandahar is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan with a population of 913, 900.
Its districts are Arghandab, Arghistan, Daman, Dand, Ghorak, Kandahar, Khakrez, Maruf, Maywand, Mianishin, Nesh, Panjwaye, Reg (Registan), Shah Wali Kot, Shorabak, Takhta Pul, and Zharai.
Kandahar’s local government is broken into different branches in the following slides.

28. Kandahar Province: Executive
Provincial Governor
Provincial police chief
Deputy governor
Mayor of the Capital
Governor of Kandahar
Current: Dr. Tooryalai Wesa
Deputy governor
Ghulam Jelani Hamayoon.
Provincial police chief
Colonel Matiullah Qateh
Kandahar city Mayor
Ghulam Mohammad
Ministry Branches
Province - (Riyasat, pl. riyasatoona)
Districts - (moderiat, pl. –oona)
The governor of Kandahar is at the top of the local government. Dr Tooryalai Wesa is the current governor of Kandahar province. Wesa is considered close friend of Karzai. Deputy governor of the southern province is Ghulam Jelani Hamayoon.
The provincial police chief of Kandahar province is Colonel Matiullah Qateh and Kandahar city Mayor is Ghulam Mohammad.
Depending on the province, there are branches of government ministries in the capitals of the provinces called (Riyasat, pl. riyasatoona) and in the districts called (moderiat, pl. –oona).
Governor of Kandahar Tooryalai Wesa

29. Kandahar Province: Executive Cont’d
Directors of ministries report to governor
Religious Affairs - Acting director Atef
Public Works - Abdul Mohammad
Counter Narcotics - Gul Mohammad
Agriculture - Abdul Hai
National Security - Momin
District governors
Haji Masood of Maywand
Haji Baran of Panjwaye
Ahmadullah Nazek of Dand
Abdul Samad of Maruf
Haji Abdul Jabar of Arghandab.
Provincial Governor
Provincial police chief
Deputy governor
District governors
Heads of ministries
Mayor of the Capital
The heads of these directorates report to Dr. Tooryalai Wesa, the provincial governor of Kandahar.
Some directors of the departments in Kandahar include:
- acting director Atef of the Hajj and Religious Affairs ministry,
-Abdul Mohammad of the Public Works ministry,
-Gul Mohammad of the ministry of Counter Narcotics,
-Abdul Hai of the ministry of Agriculture,
- and Momin of National Security
District governors also report to the provincial governor. Some of the district governors in Kandahar are Haji Masood of Maywand, Haji Baran of Panjwaye, Ahmadullah Nazek of Dand, Abdul Samad of Maruf and Haji Abdul Jabar of Arghandab districts.

30. Kandahar Province: Legislative
Fifteen members
Headed by Ahmad Wali Karzai
Brother of President Karzai
Some of the other members of the council are Haji Agha Lalai, Haji Nematullah Khan, Mohammad Ehsan, and some Shakiba Ahmadi, Zarghuna Kakar and Sooria Barna.
These provincial council members
Based in the Kandahar
Work with the local government representing their constituencies from different districts
There is a provincial council in Kandahar of fifteen members headed by Ahmad Wali Karzai, brother of President Karzai.
Some of the other members of the council are Haji Agha Lalai, Haji Nematullah Khan, Mohammad Ehsan, and some Shakiba Ahmadi, Zarghuna Kakar and Sooria Barna.
These provincial council members are based in the provincial capital, Kandahar, and work with the local government representing their constituencies from different districts.
Ahmad Wali Karzai