Niger, Government

After a military coup in 1974, the Supreme Military Council, headed by a president, became Niger’s main governing body. A new constitution approved by referendum in September 1989 nominally returned the country to civilian rule. In 1991 this constitution was suspended and a transitional government established. Another constitution was ratified in 1992. After another military coup in January 1996, the National Assembly was dissolved, and a new constitution, designed to consolidate executive power in order to avoid deadlock between the president and the legislature, was approved by public referendum. Following a 1999 coup, this constitution was amended to balance the powers of the executive and legislative branches of government once again.