Politics of 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 Labour Party[?]/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR Adolfo Canepa[?]; Gibraltar Liberal Party[?] or GLP (has become the Gibraltar National Party or NP) Joe Garcia[?]; Gibraltar Social Democrats[?] or SD Peter Caruana[?]; Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party[?] or SL Joe Bossano[?]; Gibraltar Socialist Liberal Alliance[?] or GSLA Joe Bossano[?] (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

See also : Gibraltar