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Turks and Caicos Islands/GovernmentData code: TK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Cockburn Town (on Grand Turk)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988
Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales, with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996)
head of government:
Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)
cabinet:
Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)
election results:
percent of vote by party - PDM 52.2%, PNP 40.9%, independent 6.9%; seats by party - PDM 9, PNP 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, 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: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus