Central America and the Caribbean > British Virgin Islands > Government

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Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK)
Capital city	Road Town
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	18 27 N, 64 37 W
Constitution	13 June 2007
Executive branch > Cabinet Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
Executive branch > Chief of state Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)
Executive branch > Head of government Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007)
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU
Judicial branch Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Legal system	English law
Legislative branch unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
Legislative branch > Elections last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
National holiday	Territory Day, 1 July
Political parties and leaders Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders The Family Support Network; The Women's Desk
Status dependent democracy
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International	none

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