| Country Name Info : |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI |
| Dependency Status : |
overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing |
| Capital : |
Road Town |
| Administrative Divisions : |
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
| Independence : |
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
| National Holiday : |
Territory Day, 1 July |
| Constitution : |
1 June 1977 |
| 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 Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)
head of government: Chief Minister Orlando D. SMITH (since 17 June 2003)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council
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 chief minister by the governor |
| Legislative Branch : |
unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 8, VIP 5 |
| Judicial Branch : |
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction |
| Political Parties and Leaders : |
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL] |
| International Organization Participation : |
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate) |
| Diplomatic Representation In The US : |
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
| Diplomatic Representation From The US : |
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
