Politics of Gibraltar
Country name:
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)
Legal system:
English law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have been residents six months or more
Executive branch:
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)
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
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Gibraltar
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
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