Administration
Since 1949 Ireland has been a republic with a bicameral legislature:
the lower house, the Dáil, has 166 members and is directly elected
by universal adult suffrage every five years; the 60-strong Senate
has 49 directly elected members with the balance made up of political
appointees.
Executive power is vested in the Taioseach (Prime Minister) who
presides over a Cabinet of Ministers. The cabinet is responsible
to the Dáil for its actions.
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