Pitcairn Islands: Government#
Country name | conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands etymology: named after Midshipman Robert PITCAIRN who first sighted the island in 1767 |
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Dependency status | overseas territory of the UK |
Government type | parliamentary democracy (Island Council); overseas territory of the UK |
Capital | Adamstown
Adamstown
geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
Administrative divisions | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Independence | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
National holiday | Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926); Discovery Day, 2 July (1767) |
Constitution | several previous; latest drafted 10 February 2010, presented 17 February 2010, effective 4 March 2010 (2016) |
Legal system | local island by-laws |
Citizenship | see United Kingdom |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal with three years residency |
Executive branch | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Jonathan SINCLAIR (since August 2014); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since September 2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council head of government: Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Shawn CHRISTIAN (since 13 November 2013) cabinet: none elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor directly elected by majority popular vote for a 3-year term; election last held on 12 November 2013 (next to be held not later than December 2016) election results: Shawn CHRISTIAN elected mayor and chairman of the Island Council; Island Council vote count in third round - Shawn CHRISTIAN 20, Simon YOUNG 19 |
Legislative branch | description: unicameral Island Council (10 seats; 4 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 1 nominated by the elected Council members, 2 appointed by the governor, and 3 ex-officio members - the governor, deputy governor, and commissioner; elected members serve 1-year terms) elections: last held on 13 November 2013 (next to be held not later than December 2015) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - 5 independent |
Judicial branch | highest resident court(s): Pitcairn Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, 2 judges, and the Supreme Court chief justice (ex-officio member); Pitcairn Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 judges); note - appeals beyond the Pitcairn Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: all judges of both courts appointed by the governor of the Pitcairn Islands on the instructions of the Queen of England through the Secretary of State; all judges appointed until retirement, normally at age 75 subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court |
Political parties and leaders | none |
Political pressure groups and leaders | none |
International organization participation | SPC, 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 Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the green, yellow, and blue of the shield represents the island rising from the ocean; the green field features a yellow anchor surmounted by a bible (both the anchor and the bible were items found on the HMS Bounty); sitting on the crest is a Pitcairn Island wheelbarrow from which springs a slip of miro (a local plant) |
National anthem | name: "We From Pitcairn Island" lyrics/music: unknown/Frederick M. LEHMAN note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) |