The Sultanate has neither political parties nor legislature, although the bicameral representative bodies provide the government with advice.
After the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said died leaving no direct heir, his successor Haitham bin Tariq chose to create the position of Crown Prince of Oman in 2021 and move to a defined line of succession rather than leaving it up to a family vote.
Each Governorate is sub-divided into townships (Wilayats) and each Wilayat is presided over by a Wali who reports to the Governor and their responsibilities include maintaining public order within the geographical boundaries of the wilaya, working to resolve tribal disputes and conflicts, organizing and supervising the electoral process for members of the Shura Council and municipal councils as well as chairing local and developmental committees in the wilaya.
A higher committee, which is independent and impartial and chaired by one of the Deputy Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, oversees the elections and adjudicates electoral appeals.
The previously influential opposition movement, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman, is dormant today.
Oman participates in ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, United Nations, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO.