Changes

'''Liechtenstein''' is a small [[Europe]]an country, with a population of 34,000. The tiny principality is in the [[Alps]], situated between [[Switzerland]] and [[Austria]]. The capital is Vaduz. The official language German, while the inhabitants speak an Alemannic German dialect of German.

'''Liechtenstein''' is a small [[Europe]]an country, having a population of 34,000. The tiny principality is in the [[Alps]], situated between [[Switzerland]] and [[Austria]]. Its capital town is [[Vaduz]]. The official language German, while the inhabitants speak an Alemannic dialect of German.

==Geography==

==Geography==

*Area: 61.7 sq. miles. (160 sq km.); about the size of Washington, DC.  

*Area: 61.7 sq. miles. (160 km².); about the size of Washington, DC.  

*Cities: Capital--Vaduz.

*Cities: Capital—Vaduz.

*Terrain: 66% mountains, the remainder hills and plateau situated next to the Rhine.

*Terrain: 66% mountains, the remainder hills and plateau situated next to the Rhine.

*Climate: Continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers.  

*Climate: Continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers.  

Amendments to the constitution and new laws have to be adopted by parliament, signed by both the Prince and the Head of Government, and published in the Principality's Law Gazette.  

Amendments to the constitution and new laws have to be adopted by parliament, signed by both the Prince and the Head of Government, and published in the Principality's Law Gazette.  

Prince Hans Adam II is the Head of State. He is entitled to exercise his right to state leadership in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and of other laws. On August 15, 2004 Prince Hans-Adam II entrusted Hereditary Prince Alois as his representative with the exercise of all sovereign rights pertaining to him, in accordance with the Liechtenstein Constitution.  

Prince Hans-Adam II is the Head of State. He is entitled to exercise his right to state leadership in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and of other laws. On August 15, 2004 Prince Hans-Adam II entrusted Hereditary Prince Alois as his representative with the exercise of all sovereign rights pertaining to him, in accordance with the Liechtenstein Constitution.  

He represents the state vis-à-vis foreign states. He signs international treaties either in person or delegates this function to a plenipotentiary. In accordance with international law, some treaties only become valid when they have been ratified by parliament.  

He represents the state vis-à-vis foreign states. He signs international treaties either in person or delegates this function to a plenipotentiary. In accordance with international law, some treaties only become valid when they have been ratified by parliament.  

The Prince nominates the government, district and high court judges, the judges of the Supreme Court, and the presidents and their deputies of the Constitutional Court and of the Administrative Court of Appeal on the basis of the names put forward by parliament.  

The Prince nominates the government, district and high court judges, the judges of the Supreme Court, and the presidents and their deputies of the Constitutional Court and of the Administrative Court of Appeal on the basis of the names put forward by parliament.  

The Prince's other authorities include mitigating and commuting punishments that have been imposed with legal force and the abolition--i.e. the dismissal--of investigations that have been initiated. All judgments are issued in the name of the Prince.  

The Prince's other authorities include mitigating and commuting punishments that have been imposed with legal force and the abolition—i.e. the dismissal—of investigations that have been initiated. All judgments are issued in the name of the Prince.  

Citizens elect the parliament directly under a system of proportional representation. Until 1989, 15 members represented the population of the two constituencies (6 for the lowland area and 9 for the highland area). Since 1989 the lowland constituency has been entitled to have 10 members and the highland area 15 members.  

Citizens elect the parliament directly under a system of proportional representation. Until 1989, 15 members represented the population of the two constituencies (6 for the lowland area and 9 for the highland area). Since 1989 the lowland constituency has been entitled to have 10 members and the highland area 15 members.  

The Parliament observes its rights and duties in the course of sessions of the whole parliament and through the parliamentary commissions that it elects. All members of parliament exercise their mandates in addition to their normal professions or occupations. The President of parliament and his deputy are both elected at the opening meeting for the current year. The President convenes the individual meetings during the session, leads them and represents parliament externally.  

The Parliament observes its rights and duties in the course of sessions of the whole parliament and through the parliamentary commissions that it elects. All members of parliament exercise their mandates in addition to their normal professions or occupations. The President of parliament and his deputy are both elected at the opening meeting for the current year. The President convenes the individual meetings during the session, leads them and represents parliament externally.  

During the parliamentary recess--normally from January to February/March--a "state committee" assumes parliament's duties, and such a committee must also be elected in the case of any adjournment or dissolution of parliament. A "state committee" consists of the President of parliament and four other members.  

During the parliamentary recess—normally from January to February/March—a "state committee" assumes parliament's duties, and such a committee must also be elected in the case of any adjournment or dissolution of parliament. A "state committee" consists of the President of parliament and four other members.  

The duties and working procedures of parliament are laid down in the constitution and in parliament's standing orders.  

The duties and working procedures of parliament are laid down in the constitution and in parliament's standing orders.  

===Principal Government Officials===

===Principal Government Officials===

*Klaus Tschütscher (Head of the Government)--Prime Minister, Government Executive, Finance, Construction and Public Works  

*Adrian Hasler (Head of the Government)—Prime Minister, Government Executive, Finance, Construction and Public Works  

*Klaus Tschuetscher--Deputy Prime Minister, Economic Affairs, Justice, and Sports

*Daniel Risch—Deputy Prime Minister, Economic Affairs, Justice, and Sports

*Rita Kieber-Beck--Foreign Affairs, Cultural Affairs, Family and Equal Opportunity  

*Rita Kieber-Beck—Foreign Affairs, Cultural Affairs, Family and Equal Opportunity  

*Hugo Quaderer--Education, Social Affairs, Land Use Planning, Agriculture and Forestry  

*Hugo Quaderer—Education, Social Affairs, Land Use Planning, Agriculture and Forestry  

*Martin Meyer--Home Affairs, Public Health, Transport and Telecommunications

*Martin Meyer—Home Affairs, Public Health, Transport and Telecommunications

*Robert Walner--Attorney General  

*Robert Walner—Attorney General  

*Christian Wenaweser--Permanent Representative to the UN  

*Christian Wenaweser—Permanent Representative to the UN  

===Political Conditions===

===Political Conditions===

===Foreign Relations and Defense===

===Foreign Relations and Defense===

Defense is the responsibility of Switzerland. In 1978, Liechtenstein became a member of the Council of Europe and then joined the UN in 1990, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1991, and both the European Economic Area (EEA) and World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995.  

Defense is the responsibility of Switzerland. In 1978, Liechtenstein became a member of the Council of Europe and then joined the UN in 1990, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1991, and both the European Economic Area (EEA) and World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995.

==Economy==

==Economy==

*Industry (44% of GDP): Electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments.  

*Industry (44% of GDP): Electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments.  

*Services (26% of GDP): Financial, tourism.

*Services (26% of GDP): Financial, tourism.

*Trade (2006): Exports--$3.6 billion (SFr 3.6 billion, +11.7% over 2005). Main products--small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery. Major markets--U.S., Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Austria, and United Kingdom. Imports--$2.16 billion (SFr 2.16 billion, +13.3% over 2005). Main products--machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles. Major suppliers--EU countries, Switzerland.  

*Trade (2006): Exports--$3.6 billion (SFr 3.6 billion, +11.7% over 2005). Main products—small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery. Major markets—U.S., Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Austria, and United Kingdom. Imports--$2.16 billion (SFr 2.16 billion, +13.3% over 2005). Main products—machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles. Major suppliers—EU countries, Switzerland.  

*Exchange rate (April 2008): Swiss francs per U.S. dollar = 1.0.  

*Exchange rate (April 2008): Swiss francs per U.S. dollar = 1.0.  

|}

|}

[[Category:European Countries]] [[Category:Micronations]]

[[Category:European Countries]]

[[Category:Micronations]]

[[Category:Landlocked Countries]]

[[Category:Landlocked Countries]]

[[Category:Christian-Majority Countries]]

[[Category:Christian-Majority Countries]]