Brunei has a legislative council with 36 appointed members, that only has consultative tasks.

Under Brunei's 1959 constitution, His Majesty Hassanal Bolkiah, is the head of state with full executive authority, including emergency powers since 1962.

The country has been under hypothetical martial law since a rebellion occurred in the early 1960s and was put down by British troops from Singapore.

The Seat of the Government is located in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

The first is the system inherited from the British, similar to the ones found in India, Malaysia and Singapore.

The sovereignty of the Territory of Limbang has been an ongoing issue between Brunei and Malaysia.

It was reported in 2009 that a solution "was achieved between the two governments, when Brunei dropped all claims to Limbang, thus recognising it as a Malaysian territory".

These reports, however, were dismissed by Brunei's former second minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 18 March 2009, who clarified that the claim on Limbang was never discussed [with Malaysia].