evidence: Officially known as the State of Brunei Darussalam, Abode of Peace, or Negara Brunei Darussalam, Brunei is an independent and constitutional Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Brunei’s ruling monarch, or sultan, serves as head of state. The sultan appoints ministers to serve on five Constitutional Councils, which advise and assist him in governing. An appointed chief minister oversees the work of the councils and exercises the government’s executive authority. One of the five councils, the Legislative Council, is designated as Brunei’s parliament. The Legislative Council is expected to transition gradually from an appointed to an elected body. Brunei’s Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts and heads the country’s judicial branch of government.