Country name:
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form:
Pitcairn Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Capital:
name: 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)
Constitution:
The Pitcairn Constitution Order 2010, effective 4 March 2010
Legal system:
local island by-laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal with three years residency
[see also: Suffrage country ranks ]
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 Victoria M. TREADELL (since May 2010); 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 Mike WARREN (since 1 January 2008)
cabinet:
NA
elections:
the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year term; election last held in December 2010 (next to be held in December 2013)
election results:
Mike WARREN reelected mayor and chairman of the Island Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Island Council (11 seats; mayor, deputy mayor, 4 members elected by popular vote, 1 member appointed by the governor, 3 ex officio members including governor, deputy governor, and commissioner; deputy mayor and elected members serve two-year terms)
elections:
last held on 24 December 2009 (next to be held on 24 December 2011)
election results:
percent of vote - NA; seats - 4 independents
Judicial branch:
Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judicial officers are appointed by the governor
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 United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)