Short facts about the government of Pitcairn Islands

Country name:

conventional long form:  Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form:  Pitcairn Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Adamstown

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:

1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940; further refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Legal system:

local island by-laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Executive branch:

chief of state:  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Martin WILLIAMS (since NA May 1998); Commissioner (nonresident) Leon SALT (since NA; is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council) head of government:  Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since NA) cabinet:  NA elections:  the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island magistrate elected every three years in December by popular vote for a three-year term; last election held NA December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2002) election results:  Lea BROWN elected island magistrate; percent of vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Island Council (10 seats - 6 elected by popular vote, 1 appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor, and 1 seat for the Island Secretary; members serve one-year terms) elections:  take place each December; last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001) election results:  percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents

Judicial branch:

Island Court (island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years)

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

SPC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

Source: World Factbook