Administrative divisions
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon at the second order |
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Capital city
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Saint-Pierre |
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Capital city > Geographic coordinates
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46 46 N, 56 11 W |
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Constitution
4 October 1958 (French Constitution) |
Executive branch > Chief of state
President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Jean-Pierre BERCOT (since 28 July 2008) |
Executive branch > Elections
French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of the council |
Executive branch > Head of government
President of the Territorial Council Stephane ARTANO (since 21 February 2007) |
Flag description
a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark blue background with yellow wavy lines under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is used for official occasions |
Independence
none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763) |
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International organization participation
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UPU, WFTU |
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Judicial branch
Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel |
Legal system
the laws of France, where applicable, apply |
Legislative branch
unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and four from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) |
Legislative branch > Election results
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AD 16, Cap sur l'Avenir 2, SPM 2000/AM 1 |
Legislative branch > Elections
elections last held 19 and 26 in March 2006 (next to be held in March 2012) |
National holiday
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
Political parties and leaders
Archipelago Tomorrow or AD affiliated with UDF/RPR list; Cap sur l'Avenir affiliated with PRG; Left Radical Party or PRG; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP); Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2000/Avenir Miquelon or SPM 2000/AM; Socialist Party or PS; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF |
Status
dependent democracy |
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal |
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Transnational Issues > Disputes > International
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none |
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