| Country name | conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
|
| Government type | NA |
|
| Capital | name: West Island
geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 55 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
|
| Administrative divisions | none (territory of Australia) |
|
| Independence | none (territory of Australia) |
|
| National holiday | Australia Day, 26 January (1788) |
|
| Constitution | Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992 |
|
| Legal system | based upon the laws of Australia and local laws |
|
| Suffrage | NA |
|
| Executive branch | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia |
|
| Legislative branch | unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007) |
|
| Judicial branch | Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court |
|
Political parties
and leaders | none |
|
Political pressure
groups and leaders | none |
|
International organization
participation | none |
|
| Flag description | the flag of Australia is used |
|
