| Government | British Virgin Islands |
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Country name:
|
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI |
Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing |
Government type:
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NA |
Capital:
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name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
Administrative divisions:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Dependent areas:
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void |
Independence:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
National holiday:
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Territory Day, 1 July (1956) |
Constitution:
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13 June 2007 |
Legal system:
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English law |
Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)
head of government: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
elections: 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:
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unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1 |
Judicial branch:
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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:
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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] |
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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The Family Support Network; The Women's Desk
other: environmentalists |
International organization participation:
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Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU |
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Flag description:
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blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful) |
Government - note:
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void |
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