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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 common law

International Law Organization Participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor George FERGUSSON (since 23 May 2012)

Head of government: Premier Craig CANNONIER (since 18 December 2012)

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

Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition to serve a five-year term) 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 on 17 December 2012 (next to be held not later than 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - OBA 51.7%, PLP 46.1%; seats by party - OBA 19, PLP 17

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (Chief Justice and other justices appointed by the governor; remain in office until they reach 65 years of age); Court of Appeal (President of the Court of Appeal and other justices appointed by the governor for a specific period laid out in their respective instruments of appointment); Magistrate Courts

Political Parties and Leaders

Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Marc BEAN]; One Bermuda Alliance or OBA [Thad HOLLIS]

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 (a white shield with a red lion standing on a green grassy field holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag; it was the shipwreck of the vessel, filled with English colonists originally bound for Virginia, that led to settling of Bermuda note: the flag is unusual in that it is only British overseas territory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue

National Symbols

Red lion

National Anthem

Lyrics:

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

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 Grace W. SHELTON
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, 296-9233

International Organization Participation

Caricom (associate)
ICC (NGOs)
Interpol (subbureau)
IOC

ITUC (NGOs)
UPU
WCO

Bermuda