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Country name: |
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island
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Dependency status: |
territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of Environment, Sport, and Territories
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Government type: |
NA
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Capital: |
Kingston
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Administrative divisions: |
none (territory of Australia)
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Independence: |
none (territory of Australia)
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National holiday: |
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
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Constitution: |
Norfolk Island Act of 1979
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Legal system: |
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch: |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator Grant TAMBLING (since 1 November 2003)
head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister Geoffrey Robert GARDNER (since 5 December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held 20 Ocotber 2004 (next to be held by December 2007)
election results: Geoffrey Robert GARDNER elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - 17.2%
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Legislative branch: |
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held by December 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
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Political parties and leaders: |
none
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
none
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International organization participation: |
UPU
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
none (territory of Australia)
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
none (territory of Australia)
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Flag description: |
three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band
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