3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: none

Conventional short form: Bermuda

Former: Somers Islands

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

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December 2007)

Head of government: Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006); Deputy Premier Paula COX

Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor

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

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members 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 18 December 2007 (next to be held not later than 2012)

Election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts

Political Parties and Leaders

Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Kim SWAN]

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]

Flag Description

Red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag

National Anthem

Year

Government Type

  • Parliamentary; self-governing territory

Capital

  • Name
    Hamilton
  • Geographic Coordinates
    32 17 N, 64 47 W
  • Time Difference
    UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
  • Daylight Saving Time
    +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

Diplomatic Representation in the US

    None (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON
  • Consulate(s) General
    Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
  • Mailing Address
    P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, US Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300
  • Telephone
    [1] (441) 295-1342
  • FAX
    [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233

International Organization Participation

  • Caricom (associate)
  • Interpol (subbureau)
  • IOC
  • ITUC
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WFTU