| Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Helena |
|
| Government type | NA |
|
| Capital | name: Jamestown
geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
|
| Administrative divisions | 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha* |
|
| Independence | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
|
| National holiday | Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926) |
|
| Constitution | 1 January 1989 |
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| Legal system | English common law and statutes, supplemented by local statutes |
|
| Suffrage | NA years of age |
|
| Executive branch | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief Michael CLANCY (since 15 October 2004)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, three ex-officio officers, and five elected members of the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch |
|
| Legislative branch | unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, three ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 August 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12 |
|
| Judicial branch | Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal |
|
Political parties
and leaders | none |
|
Political pressure
groups and leaders | none |
|
International organization
participation | UPU |
|
| Flag description | blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship |
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