Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected by popular vote, one appointed for the Speaker, and two ex officio members; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 10 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - SD 54%, GSLA 40%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for
the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR ; Gibraltar
Liberal Party or GLP (has become the Gibraltar National Party or NP)
; Gibraltar Social Democrats or SD ;
Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or SL ; Gibraltar
Socialist Liberal Alliance or GSLA (includes SL and GLP)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar
Representatives Organization; Housewives Association
International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the
UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the
UK)
Flag description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
@Gibraltar:Economy
Economy - overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 20% of GDP; tourism (almost 6 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment.