Laos

Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang (literally, "a million elephants"), established in the 14th century under King Fa Ngum. For three hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. During World War II, the Japanese occupied French Indochina, including Laos. King Sisavang Vong of Luang Prabang was induced to declare independence from France in 1945, just prior to Japan's surrender. The French eventually granted full sovereignty to Laos in 1953. Then, in 1955, Laos was officially recognised by the United Nations. Backed by the United States, the Royal Lao Government ruled over a divided country from 1951 to 1954, and a growing American and North Vietnamese military presence in the country increasingly drew Laos into the Indochina war from 1954 to 1975.

In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the Government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), which marked its 51st anniversary in 2006. The Head of State is the President, elected by Parliament for a five-year term. The Head of Government is the Prime Minister, appointed by the President with parliamentary approval. Government policies are determined by the party through the ten-member Politburo and the 52-member Central Committee. Laos adopted its Constitution in 1991. In 1992 a new National Assembly was voted and members elected by secret ballot to 5-year terms. The most recent elections took place in April 2006.