3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: none

Conventional short form: Bermuda

Former: Somers Islands

Etymology: the islands making up Bermuda are named after Juan de BERMUDEZ, an early 16th century Spanish sea captain and the first European explorer of the archipelago

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; note - formerly known as Victoria Day, Empire Day, and Commonwealth Day

Constitution

History: several previous (dating to 1684); latest entered into force 8 June 1968 (Bermuda Constitution Order 1968) (2018)

Amendments: proposal procedure - NA; passage by an Order in Council in the UK; amended several times, last in 2012 (2018)

Legal System

English common law

International Law Organization Participation

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

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: no

Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the UK

Dual citizenship recognized: yes

Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor John RANKIN (since 5 December 2016)

Head of government: Premier David BURT (since 19 July 2017)

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

Elections:

Legislative Branch

Description: bicameral Parliament consists of

Elections: House of Assembly - last held on 18 July 2017 (next to be held not later than 2022)

Election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 58.9%, OBA 40.6%, other 0.5%; seats by party - PLP 24, OBA 12

Judicial Branch

Highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 4 puisne judges, and 1 associate justice); note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London is the court of final appeal

Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal justice appointed by the governor; justice tenure by individual appointment; Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and appointed by the governor; judge tenure based on terms of appointment

Subordinate courts: commercial court (began in 2006); magistrates' courts

Political Parties and Leaders

One Bermuda Alliance or OBA (vacant); Progressive Labor Party or PLP [E. David BURT];

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 the 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

Name: Hail to Bermuda

Lyrics:

Year

Government Type

  • Parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

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 Mary Ellen KOENIG (since 28 November 2015)
  • 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
  • Consulate(s) General
    Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3

International Organization Participation

  • Caricom (associate)
  • ICC (NGOs)
  • Interpol (subbureau)
  • IOC
  • ITUC (NGOs)
  • UPU
  • WCO