Country name:
conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
conventional short form:
none
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Capital:
name:
Jamestown
geographic coordinates:
15 56 S, 5 43 W
time difference:
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 administrative areas; 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:
several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (The St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009) (2013)
Legal system:
English common law and local statutes
Suffrage:
18 years of age
[see also: Suffrage country ranks ]
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Governor Mark CAPES (since 29 October 2011)
note:
the constitution order provides for an administrator for Ascension and Tristan da Cunha appointed by the governor
Administrator Ascension Island:
Colin WELLS (since 27 October 2011)
Administrator Tristan da Cunha:
Alex MITHAM (since 23 September 2013)
cabinet:
Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council
elections:
none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats, including a speaker and deputy speaker, 12 elected, and three ex-officio members; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
note:
the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
elections:
last held on 4 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2013)
election results:
percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12
Judicial branch:
highest court(s):
Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice - a non-resident - and NA judges)
note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office:
court judges' appointments and tenures NA
subordinate courts:
Magistrate's Court; Small Claims Court; Juvenile Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other:
private sector; unions
International organization participation:
UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 upper third of the shield depicts a white plover (wire bird) on a yellow field; the remainder of the shield depicts a rocky coastline on the left, offshore is a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled but flying an English flag
National symbol(s):
Saint Helena plover (bird)
National anthem:
note:
as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)