National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands
(since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo
KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29
July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES
cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for
a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime
minister elected by the Staten for a four-year term; election last
held 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001)
election results: inconclusive; no party won majority in December
1997 parliamentary elections; no new government formed as of May 1998
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats;
members elected by direct popular vote and serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA
December 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—AVP
10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges are
appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party or MEP
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO
(associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands)