Central America and the Caribbean > Barbados > Government

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Administrative divisions 11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	13 06 N, 59 37 W
Definition: Government > Capital city > Geographic coordinates
Constitution	30 November 1966
Definition: Government > Constitution
Corruption	6.9		[24th of 160]
Definition: Government > Corruption
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055
Definition: Government > Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Definition: Government > Executive branch > Cabinet
Executive branch > Chief of state Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)
Definition: Government > Executive branch > Chief of state
Flag description three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
Definition: Government > Flag description
Government type	parliamentary democracy
Definition: Government > Government type
Independence 30 November 1966 (from UK)
Definition: Government > Independence
Judicial branch Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services); Caribbean Court of Justice is the highest court of appeal
Definition: Government > Judicial branch
Legal system English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Definition: Government > Legal system
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at his discretion) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Definition: Government > Legislative branch
Parliamentary seats > Female	11%		[57th of 143]
Definition: Government > Parliamentary seats > Female
Political parties and leaders Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [David THOMPSON]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP [David COMISSIONG]
Definition: Government > Political parties and leaders
Political pressure groups and leaders Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Patrick FROST]; Barbados Union of Teachers or BUT [Herbert GITTENS]; Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, (includes the BWU, NUPW, BUT, and BSTU) [Leroy TROTMAN]; Barbados Workers Union or BWU [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG]; National Union of Public Workers [Joseph GODDARD]
Definition: Government > Political pressure groups and leaders
Status democracy
Definition: Government > Status
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Definition: Government > Suffrage
Trademarks, residents	127		[75th of 98]
Definition: Government > Trademarks, residents
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Definition: Government > Transnational Issues > Disputes > International

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