Administrative divisions: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Ms. Vibeke LARSEN, chief administrative officer (since mid-1995) head of government : Prime Minister Edmund JOENSEN (since 15 September 1994) cabinet: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament elections: the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed by the queen; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held NA 1994 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: Edmund JOENSEN elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 23.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - Unionist Party 23.4%, People's Party 16.0%, Social Democrats 15.4%, Republicans 13.7%, Workers' Party 9.5%, Christian People 6.3%, Center Party 5.8%, Home Rule Party 5.6%; seats by party - Unionist Party 8, People's Party 6, Social Democrats 5, Republicans 4, Workers' Party 3, Christian People 2, Center Party 2, Home Rule Party 2 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - Unionist Party 22.5%, People's Party 21.7%; seats by party - Unionist Party 1, People's Party 1
Judicial branch: none
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Joannes
EIDESGAARD]; Workers' Party [Alis JACOBSEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena
Dam A NEYSTABO]; Unionist Party [Edmund JOENSEN]; Republican Party
[Heini O. HEINESEN]; Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN]; Christian
People's Party [Niels Pauli DANIELSEN]; People's Party [Arnfinn
KALLSBERG]