Politics of Bermuda takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Premier is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Bermuda is the oldest self-governing British Overseas Territory and has a great degree of internal autonomy. Its 1968 Constitution provided the island with formal responsibility for internal self-government, while the British Government retained responsibility for external affairs, defense, and security. The Bermudian Government is always consulted on any international negotiations affecting the territory.Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament. The party system is dominated by the Progressive Labour Party and the United Bermuda Party. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. Bermuda participates, through British delegations, in the UN and some of its specialized and related agencies. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes Bermuda on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. A parliamentary system, or parliamentarism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy and theory of civics in which voters choose (in free, secret, multi-party elections) representatives to act in their interests, but not as their proxies—i. ... Dependency has a number of meanings: In project management, a dependency is a link amongst a projects terminal elements. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, tone, style, and voice). ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (almost exclusively Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The Progressive Labour Party is a social democratic political party in Bermuda. ... The United Bermuda Party is a moderate political party in Bermuda. ... The judiciary, also referred to as the judicature, consists of the system of courts of law for the administration of justice and to its principals, the justices, judges and magistrates among other types of adjudicators. ... Main articles: League of Nations and History of the United Nations The term United Nations was coined by Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, to refer to the Allies. ... Main articles: League of Nations and History of the United Nations The term United Nations was coined by Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, to refer to the Allies. ... // The United Nations maintains a list of territories that do not govern themselves. ...

Since 1968 Bermuda has had a Constitution that sets out its structure of government. Queen Elizabeth II is head of state and is represented in Bermuda by a Governor, whom she appoints. Internally, Bermuda has a parliamentary system of government. The British Governor has reserved powers in three areas which are External Affairs, Internal Security and the Police. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born 21 April 1926, is the Queen regnant of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, Belize, The Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and... A governor is also a device that regulates the speed of a machine. ... A parliamentarian is a specialist in parliamentary procedure. ... A reserve power is a power that may be exercised by the head of state of a country in certain exceptional circumstances. ...

Political Conditions

Bermuda's first political party, the Progressive Labour Party (PLP), was formed in February 1963 with predominantly black and working class adherents. In 1965, the two-party system was launched with the formation of the United Bermuda Party (UBP), which had the support of the majority of white voters and of some blacks. A third party, the Bermuda Democratic Party (BDP), was formed in the summer of 1967 with a splinter group from the PLP as a nucleus; it disbanded in 1970. It was later replaced by the National Liberal Party (NLP) which currently holds no parliamentary seats. The Progressive Labour Party is a social democratic political party in Bermuda. ... The United Bermuda Party is a moderate political party in Bermuda. ... The National Liberal Party may be: National Liberal Party (Bermuda) - a Bermudian party National Liberal Party (Germany) - a former German party National Liberal Party (Lebanon) - a Lebanese party National Liberal Party (Panama) - a Panamanian party National Liberal Party (Romania) - a Romanian party National Liberal Party (UK) - a former United Kingdom...

Bermuda's first election held on the basis of universal adult suffrage and equal voting took place on 22 May 1968; previously, the franchise had been limited to property owners and those above the age of 21. Persons who owned land in one or more parishes could vote in each parish. In the 1968 election, the UBP won 30 House of Assembly seats, while the PLP won 10 and the BDP lost the three seats it had previously held. The UBP continued to maintain control of the government, although by decreasing margins in the Assembly, until 1998 when the PLP won the general election for the first time with 54% of the popular vote and a 24 seat majority in the 40 member Assembly. The PLP would succeed gaining a second term in July 2003, although by a reduced majority of 52% margin of the popular vote and 22 seats in a new 36 seat Assembly. A leadership battle followed the election, resulting in the PLP's first Premier, Jennifer M. Smith (now Dame Jennifer) being ousted with W.Alexander Scott chosen as new Party Leader and later Premier. May 22 is the 142nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (143rd in leap years). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

Unsatisfied aspirations, particularly among young blacks, led to a brief civil disturbance in December 1977, following the execution of two men found guilty of the 1972-73 assassinations of Governor Sir Richard Sharples and four others. In the 1980s, the increasing prosperity of Bermudians, combined with limited land area, caused severe pressure in housing. Despite a general strike in 1981 and poor economic conditions worldwide during 1981-83, Bermuda's social, political, and economic institutions showed resilience and stability. Major Sir Richard C. Sharples, MC, OBE (1916—March 10, 1973, St. ...

Bermuda's positive experience with internal self-government has led to discussions of possible complete independence by both parties. However, an independence referendum called by a sharply divided UBP in the summer of 1995 was resoundingly defeated and resulted in the resignation of the Premier and UBP leader, Sir John Swan. Just over 58% of the electorate voted in the independence referendum, which had to be postponed one day due to disruptions caused by Hurricane Felix. Of those voting, over 73% voted against independence, while only 25% voted in favor. The vote may not have been a true test of support for independence, however, as the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) urged its membership and supporters to boycott the referendum. The PLP stated that the unwillingness of the UBP government to put forward a plan of substantive constitutional reform made it impossible for it to support the referendum. Sir John William David Swan (born 1935) was a British-Bermudian territorial political figure (United Bermuda Party). ... The name Felix has been used for three tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean. ...

This was in spite of the fact that independence had been one of the PLP's central principles since the party's inception in 1963. In 1968, the PLP election platform stated that, "No government can be either responsible or democratic while under the rule of another country. Colonialism is a cancer....Therefore we shall return to London to examine with the British Government what arrangements can be made for our independence." 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... World map of colonialism at the end of the Second World War in 1945. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ...

It was ironic, therefore, that independence was absent from the PLP's general election platform both in 1998, when the PLP first triumphed at the polls, and again in 2003. In fact, Premier Jennifer M. Smith stated that she would not pursue independence during her first term. Again, in 2001, she made the following statement: "As I have stated repeatedly, consistently and unequivocally since assuming the leadership of the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party, I shall state once again for the record-independence is not an issue that we will address in our first term and probably not in our second term....We believe that there are a number of areas that need addressing before Bermuda heads down this road." Jennifer Meredith Smith (born 1947) was the premier of Bermuda from 1998 until 2003. ...

Under the leadership of Smith, the Government of Bermuda began to systematically address the issues that it believes are fundamental prerequisites for independence. It very quickly enacted legislation providing for the elimination of annual voter registration. In 2001, the government began taking steps to amend Bermuda's constitution in order to abolish the island's system of parish-based, dual-seat constituencies which favored voters in parishes of small, predominantly white populations. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) prepared an Order in Council empowering the Constituency Boundaries Commission to recommend to the Governor the number and boundaries of single-member constituencies into which Bermuda should be divided. The Commission held meetings with the public and concluded its deliberations. The Governor then submitted the commission's report to the UK's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, together with the views of the House of Assembly. Finally, the FCO prepared a second Order in Council for presentation to the Privy Council to effect the proposals made by the commission, including constitutional amendments relating to electoral boundaries and representation. 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, seen from St. ... An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in the United Kingdom and in the Commonwealth which is formally made in the name of the Queen by the Privy Council (Queen-in-Council), or the Governor-General or Governor by the Executive Council (Governor-General-in-Council, Governor-in... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ...

The possibility of independence has relevance to newly enacted UK legislation entitling citizens of Britain's Overseas Territories, including Bermuda, to British citizenship. The UK's Overseas Territories Act, passed in February 2002, provides automatic acquisition of British citizenship, including automatic transmission of citizenship to their children; the right of abode, including the right to live and work in the U.K. and the European Union; the right not to exercise or to formally renounce British citizenship; and the right to use the fast track EU/EEA channel at the airport, free of U.K. immigration controls. 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A poll conducted by the Bermuda Sun, a local semiweekly newspaper, reveals support for British citizenship. The March 2002 poll revealed that of the 356 persons surveyed, 66.9% were interested in accepting British citizenship, and only 18% said that they would refuse it. There are no conditions attached to the granting of British citizenship to the Overseas Territories, a fact of particular importance to Bermuda where the issue of independence lies dormant. The white paper specifically states, "The new grant of British citizenship will not be a barrier, therefore, to those Overseas Territories choosing to become independent of Britain....Our Overseas Territories are British for as long as they wish to remain British. Britain has willingly granted independence where it has been requested; and we will continue to do so where this is an option."

Executive branch

The governor is appointed by the monarch. The governor invites the leader of largest party in Parliament to form a government as premier. The Premier is head of government and leader of the majority party in the elected House of Assembly. The Cabinet is composed of 14 members selected by the Premier from among members of the bicameral parliament consisting of the nominated Senate and the House of Assembly. The Governor appoints a number of senior government positions including the Pusine Judges, Police Commissioner, the Auditor General and the Parliamentary Registrar. Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a [[leap year starting on Tueday] (link will take you to calendar). ... Flag of the Governor of Bermuda The Governor of Bermuda is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of Bermuda. ... Sir John Vereker (born 9 August 1944) is the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Island of Bermuda. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... List of Premiers of Bermuda Political Parties UBP - United Bermuda Party PLP - Progressive Labour Party See also Politics of Bermuda List of Governors of Bermuda British overseas territory Lists of incumbents Categories: | ... Alex Scott (born 1940) is the premier of Bermuda and the leader of the Progressive Labour Party since 29 July 2003. ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A premier is an executive official of government. ... A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral legislature, in some countries, often at subnational level. ...

Cabinet

Deputy Premier, Minister of Tourism & Transport Hon. Ewart F. Brown JP, MP

Minister of Legislative Affiars Hon. Michael Scott, JP, MP

Minister of Finance Hon. Paula A. Cox JP, MP

Minister of Health & Family Services Hon. Patrice K. Minors JP, MP

Minister of Justice & Legislative Affairs Senator the Hon. Larry D. Mussenden, JP

Minister of Labour Home Affairs and Public Safety Hon. K. H. Randolph Horton JP, MP

Minister of Education Hon. Terry E. Lister JP, MP

Minister of the Environment Hon. D. Neletha I. Butterfield JP, MP

Minister of Community Affiars & Sport Hon. Dale D. Butler JP, MP

Minister Works & Engineer and Housing Senator the Hon. Lt. Col David Burch, JP

Minister of National Drug Control Hon. Wayne Perinchief, JP, MP

Minister without Portfolio Hon. Walter Lister JP, MP

Legislative branch

The Parliament has two chambers: the House of Assembly and the Senate. The House of Assembly was originally composed of 40 members from 20 electoral districts (two representatives from each district) for a term not to exceed 5 years. As the districts, based on the old parish boundaries, contained significantly differing numbers of voters (malapportionment), that body was replaced in 2002 with a 36-member House elected from single-seat electoral districts of roughly equal population for a five year term . The Senate, called the Legislative Council until 1980, is the revising chamber and serves concurrently with the House of Assembly. There are 11 Senators: five appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Premier; three in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition; and three at the Governor's discretion. In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... Malapportionment is broad and systematic variance in the size of electoral constituencies (at least within electoral systems which have them). ... A Legislative Council in British constitutional thought is the second-to-top tier of a government led by a Governor-General, Governor or a Lieutenant-Governor, inferior to an Executive Council and equal to or superior to a Legislative Assembly. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government. ...

Political parties and elections

Election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in Bermuda. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Bermuda.

An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ... See Election (movie) for the film directed by Alexander Payne. ... Politics of Bermuda Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Bermuda ... The Progressive Labour Party is a social democratic political party in Bermuda. ... The United Bermuda Party is a moderate political party in Bermuda. ...

Judicial branch

The judiciary is composed of a Chief Justice and associate Judges appointed by the Governor. Bermuda is divided into nine parishes, with Hamilton and St. George considered autonomous corporations.

Administrative divisions

Bermuda is divided in 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick.

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC The Caribbean Community and Common Market or CARICOM was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas which came into effect on August 1, 1973. ... Interpol logo Interpol, more correctly the International Criminal Police Organization, was created in 1923 to assist international criminal police co-operation. ...

External links

• Government of Bermuda
• Progressive Labour Party
• United Bermuda Party