Editing Sikkim (section)

== Government and politics ==
{{See also|1=Elections in Sikkim|2=History of Sikkim}}
[[File:Sikkim Assembly Gangtok.jpg|thumb|[[Sikkim Legislative Assembly]]]]
According to the [[Constitution of India]], Sikkim has a [[parliamentary system]] of [[representative democracy]] for its governance; [[universal suffrage]] is granted to state residents. The government structure is organised into three branches:

* Executive: As with all [[States and territories of India|states of India]], a [[governor]] stands at the head of the executive power of state, just as the president is the head of the executive power in the Union, and is appointed by the President of India. The governor's appointment is largely ceremonial, and his or her main role is to oversee the swearing-in of the [[chief minister]]. The chief minister, who holds the real executive powers, is the head of the party or coalition garnering the largest majority in the state elections. The governor also appoints cabinet ministers on the advice of the chief minister.
* Legislature: Sikkim has a [[unicameral]] legislature, the [[Sikkim Legislative Assembly]], like most other Indian states. Its state assembly has 32 seats, including one reserved for the [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]]. Sikkim is allocated one seat in each of the two chambers of India's national [[bicameral]] legislature, the [[Lok Sabha]] and the [[Rajya Sabha]].
* Judiciary: The [[judiciary]] consists of the [[Sikkim High Court]] and a system of lower courts. The High Court, located at Gangtok, has a Chief Justice along with two permanent justices. The Sikkim High Court is the smallest state high court in the country.<ref name="High court">{{Cite news | url = http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/roct2003/30102003/r301020036.html | title = Judge strengths in High Courts increased | publisher = Ministry of Law & Justice | date = 30 October 2003 | access-date = 12 October 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171022014634/http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/roct2003/30102003/r301020036.html | archive-date = 22 October 2017 | url-status = dead}}</ref>

In 1975, after the abrogation of Sikkim's monarchy, the [[Indian National Congress]] gained a majority in the 1977 elections. In 1979, after a period of instability, a popular ministry headed by [[Nar Bahadur Bhandari]], leader of the [[Sikkim Sangram Parishad Party]], was sworn in. Bhandari held on to power in the 1984 and 1989 elections. In the 1994 elections, [[Pawan Kumar Chamling]] of the [[Sikkim Democratic Front]] became the Chief Minister of the state. Chamling and his party had since held on to power by winning the 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014 elections.<ref name="Hist" /><ref name="Thirty years" /><ref name="Hindu2009-05-17">{{Cite news | url = http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/17/stories/2009051759450900.htm | newspaper = [[The Hindu]] | title = SDF wins all seats in Sikkim Assembly | date = 17 May 2009 | access-date = 15 June 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090522131057/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/17/stories/2009051759450900.htm | archive-date = 22 May 2009 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> However, the 2019 legislative assembly elections were won by the [[Sikkim Krantikari Morcha]] party and the chief minister since then is [[Prem Singh Tamang]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 May 2019|title=Sikkim Assembly election results 2019: Full list of winners|url=https://zeenews.india.com/assembly-elections/sikkim-assembly-election-results-2019-full-list-of-winners-2205926.html|access-date=22 August 2020|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=India com News|date=14 May 2019|title=Sikkim Assembly Elections 2019: All You Need to Know|url=https://www.india.com/lok-sabha-elections-2019-india/sikkim-assembly-elections-2019-all-you-need-to-know-3658252/|access-date=22 August 2020|website=India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News {{!}} India.com|language=en}}</ref> The current Governor of Sikkim is [[Lakshman Acharya]].<ref name="Lakshman Prasad Acharya Is Sikkim’s New Governor - All The News From Sikkim, India and The World">{{cite news |title=Lakshman Prasad Acharya Is Sikkim's New Governor - All The News From Sikkim, India and The World |url=https://www.voiceofsikkim.com/lakshman-prasad-acharya-is-sikkims-new-governor/ |access-date=12 February 2023 |date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212165153/https://www.voiceofsikkim.com/lakshman-prasad-acharya-is-sikkims-new-governor/ |archive-date=12 February 2023}}</ref>

Sikkim is among India's most [[environmental consciousness|environmentally conscious]] states, having banned [[plastic bottle|plastic water bottles]] "in all government functions and meetings" and [[polystyrene]] products (throughout the state).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sikenvis.nic.in/ViewGeneralLatestNews.aspx?Id=4964&Year=2016|title=Ban on styrofoam products and on use of mineral water bottles in government functions and meetings in Sikkim|access-date=2 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911075948/http://sikenvis.nic.in/ViewGeneralLatestNews.aspx?Id=4964&Year=2016|archive-date=11 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-sikkim-became-the-cleanest-state-and-is-working-towards-becoming-poverty-free-in-four-years/articleshow/54499474.cms|title=How Sikkim became the cleanest state in India|last1=Sharma|first1=Shantanu Nandan|date=25 September 2016|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=25 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613011743/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-sikkim-became-the-cleanest-state-and-is-working-towards-becoming-poverty-free-in-four-years/articleshow/54499474.cms|archive-date=13 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Subdivisions ===
Sikkim has six districts – [[East Sikkim|Gangtok District]], [[North Sikkim|Mangan District]], [[South Sikkim|Namchi District]], [[Pakyong District]], [[West Sikkim|Geyzing District]] and [[Soreng District]]. The district capitals are [[Gangtok]], [[Mangan, India|Mangan]], [[Namchi]], [[Pakyong]], [[Gyalshing]] and [[Soreng]] respectively.<ref>{{Cite book | title = Manorama Yearbook 2009 | editor1-last = Mathew | editor1-first = K. M. | publisher = Malayala Manorama | page = 660 | chapter = India | isbn = 978-81-89004-12-5 }}</ref> These six districts are further divided into 16 subdivisions; Pakyong, Rongli, Rangpo and Gangtok are the subdivisions of the Gangtok and Pakyong Districts. Soreng, Yuksom, Gyalshing and Dentam are the subdivisions of the Geyzing and Soreng district. Chungthang, Dzongu, Kabi and Mangan are the subdivisions of the Mangan district. Ravongla, Jorethang, Namchi and Yangyang are the subdivisions of the Namchi district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sikkim.gov.in/KnowSikkim/statistics/list-of-sdm|title=List of Sdm|website=sikkim.gov.in|access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref>

Each of Sikkim's districts is overseen by a state government appointee, the [[district collector]], who is in charge of the administration of the civilian areas of the district. The Indian Army has control over a large part of the state, as Sikkim forms part of a sensitive border area with [[China]]. Many areas are restricted to foreigners, and [[Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958 (India)|official permits]] are needed to visit them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sikkim.nic.in/sws/tour_off.htm|title=Information of Foreign Tourist Interest|publisher=Sikkim.nic.in|access-date=6 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523095928/http://sikkim.nic.in/sws/tour_off.htm|archive-date=23 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>