Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda

Data code BD

Dependency status dependent territory of the UK

Government type NA

National capital Hamilton

Administrative divisions 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick

Independence none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday Bermuda Day, 24 May

Constitution 8 June 1968

Legal system English law

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since June 1997)
head of government: Premier Pamela GORDON (since 25 March 1997); Deputy Premier Jerome DILL (since 1 September 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; premier appointed by the governor

Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998)
election results: percent of vote by party - UBP 50%, PLP 46%, independents 4%; seats by party - UBP 22, PLP 18

Judicial branch Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders United Bermuda Party or UBP [Pamela GORDON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; National Liberal Party or NLP [Charles JEFFERS]

Political pressure groups and leaders Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA (Leleath BAILEY)

International organization participation Caricom (observer), CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Diplomatic representation in the US none (dependent territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Consul General Robert A. FARMER
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592

Flag description red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag

NOTE: The information regarding Bermuda on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bermuda Government 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bermuda Government 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.