Long-form name: none

Type: colony of the UK

Capital: Hamilton

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

Independence: none (colony of the UK)

Constitution: 8 June 1968

Legal system: English law

National holiday: Bermuda Day, 22 May

Branches: Executive Council (cabinet) appointed by governor, led by government leader; bicameral legislature with an 11-member appointed Senate and a 40-member elected House of Assembly; Supreme Court

Leaders: @m5Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir Desmond LANGLEY (since NA October 1988); @m5Head of Government--Premier John William David SWAN (since NA January 1982)

Suffrage: universal over age 21

Elections: at least once every five years; last general election 9 February 1989

Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party (UBP), John W. D. Swan; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick Wade; National Liberal Party (NLP), Gilbert Darrell

Voting strength: (1989 general election) 40 seats total--UBP 23 seats, PLP 15 seats, NLP 1 seat, other 1 seat

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), headed by Ottiwell Simmons

Member of: INTERPOL, WHO

Diplomatic representation: as a British colony, Bermuda's interests in the US are represented by the UK; US--Consul General James M. MEDAS; Consulate General at Vallis Building, Par-la-Ville Road (off Front Street West), Hamilton (mailing address is P. O. Box 325, Hamilton, or FPO New York 09560); telephone (809) 295-1342

Flag: 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 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bermuda Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bermuda Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.