National capital: Stanley
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by
Argentina)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985; amended 1997
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996); Chief Executive A. GURR (since NA); First Secretary R. T. JARVIS (since NA) cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats, 8 elected, 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is non-resident