| Country Name Info : |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
former: Somers Islands |
| Dependency Status : |
overseas territory of the UK |
| Government Type : |
parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government |
| Capital : |
Hamilton |
| Administrative Divisions : |
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick |
| Independence : |
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
| National Holiday : |
Bermuda Day, 24 May |
| Constitution : |
8 June 1968, amended 1989 and 2003 |
| Legal System : |
English law |
| Suffrage : |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive Branch : |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since NA April 2002)
head of government: Premier Alex SCOTT (since 24 July 2003); Deputy Premier Ewart BROWN
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor |
| Legislative Branch : |
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held NA July 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14 |
| Judicial Branch : |
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts |
| Political Parties and Leaders : |
Gombey Liberation Party or GLP [Gavin Sundjata SMITH]; National Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [William Alexander SCOTT]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Grant GIBBONS]; |
| Political Pressure Groups and Leaders : |
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES] |
| International Organization Participation : |
Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCO, Egmont Group, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force |
| Diplomatic Representation In The US : |
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
| Diplomatic Representation From The US : |
chief of mission: Consul General Denis Patrick COLEMAN, Jr.
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233 |
