Laos's political system is organized around a dominant ruling party that occupies the central position in national government. Thongloun Sisoulith serves as General Secretary and President of Laos, with state institutions operating within that one-party framework.
Laos is a socialist state governed under a one-party or one-party-dominant socialist political system in which the ruling party occupies the leading position in national political life. State executive institutions, the legislature, and mass organizations operate within a framework in which major policy direction is set through the party's senior leadership and organizational structure.
Legislative authority is exercised through a unicameral national parliament or assembly. It passes legislation, approves the budget, and performs the oversight and appointment functions assigned to it by the constitution. The judiciary is formally separate from the political branches, with the highest courts responsible for interpreting law and, where the constitutional system provides for it, reviewing constitutional questions.
Laos is a unitary state, meaning sovereign authority is principally vested in national institutions, although local and regional governments exercise powers assigned by law. The constitution defines the relationship among the executive, legislature, judiciary, and subnational administration.
