Gibraltar Government

Gibraltar Government: A summary of information about Gibraltar Government, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.

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Gibraltar: Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar

Data code

GI

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Government type

NA

Capital

Gibraltar

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday

Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)

Constitution

30 May 1969

Legal system

English law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have
been residents six months or more

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief, the Right Honorable
Sir Richard LUCE (since 24 February 1997); note - a new governor has
been appointed and will arrive in March 2000
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 15 elected
members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with
the chief minister
note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15
elected by popular vote, one appointed for the Speaker, and two ex
officio members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - SD 54%, GSLA 40%; seats
by party - NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for
the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR ; Gibraltar
Liberal Party or GLP (has become the Gibraltar National Party or NP)
; Gibraltar Social Democrats or SD ;
Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or SL ; Gibraltar
Socialist Liberal Alliance or GSLA  (includes SL and GLP)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar
Representatives Organization; Housewives Association

International organization participation

Interpol (subbureau)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the
UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the
UK)

Flag description

two horizontal bands of white (top, double width)
and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white
band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red
band