ÿþ<html> <head> <title> Cook Islands Government 2012, CIA World Factbook </title> <META NAME="Description" CONTENT="Cook Islands Government 2012, CIA World Factbook"> <META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="Cook Islands, Government, 2012, CIA, World, Factbook"> <script language="JavaScript"> function AddToFaves_hp(){ var is_4up = parseInt(navigator.appVersion); var is_mac = navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("mac")!=-1; var is_ie = navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("msie")!=-1; var thePage = location.href; if (thePage.lastIndexOf('#')!=-1) thePage = thePage.substring(0,thePage.lastIndexOf('#')); if (is_ie && is_4up && !is_mac) window.external.AddFavorite(thePage,document.title); else if (is_ie || document.images) booker_hp = window.open(thePage,'booker_','menubar,width=325,height=100,left=140,top=60'); //booker_hp.focus(); } //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; 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/* WFB Leaderboard */ google_ad_slot = "7548094546"; google_ad_width = 728; google_ad_height = 90; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </td></tr> <tr height="3" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="white" nowrap units="pixels"><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" height="3" width="972" nowrap bgcolor="white" nowrap> <img src="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/line1.gif"></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="middle" background="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/light_blue.gif" width="972"> <font size="-2"> <br></font> <font face="arial" size="5"><b>Cook Islands</b> Government 2012</font> <br> <font size = "-2"> http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/cook_islands/cook_islands_government.html </font> <br> <font size="-2"><B>SOURCE: 2012 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK AND OTHER SOURCES</B></FONT></td></tr> <tr height="3" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="white" nowrap units="pixels"> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" height="3" width="972" nowrap bgcolor="white" nowrap> <img src="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/line13.gif"></td></tr></table> <table border="0" bgcolor="#FFCC99" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="972" align="left" valign="top" hspace="0" vspace="0" units="pixels"> <tr><td background="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/light_blue.gif" width="200" valign="top"> <font face="arial"> <br><br> <center> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-7437757543052749"; 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/* WFB Large Rectangle */ google_ad_slot = "8137512903"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> <br> Page last updated on February 15, <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#country_name">Country name:</a></b><br> <i>conventional long form:</i> none <br><i>conventional short form:</i> Cook Islands <br><i>former:</i> Harvey Islands <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#dependency_status">Dependency status:</a></b><br> self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense in consultation with the Cook Islands <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#government_type">Government type:</a></b><br> self-governing parliamentary democracy <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#capital">Capital:</a></b><br> <i>name:</i> Avarua <br><i>geographic coordinates:</i> 21 12 S, 159 46 W <br><i>time difference:</i> UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#administrative_divisions">Administrative divisions:</a></b><br> none <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#independence">Independence:</a></b><br> none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#national_holiday">National holiday:</a></b><br> Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#constitution">Constitution:</a></b><br> 4 August 1965 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#legal_system">Legal system:</a></b><br> common law similar to New Zealand common law <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#international_law_organization_participation">International law organization participation:</a></b><br> has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#suffrage">Suffrage:</a></b><br> 18 years of age; universal <br>[see also: <a href="http://www.photius.com/rankings/population/suffrage_2012_0.html" target="_blank"><u>Suffrage country ranks</u></a> ] <p><b><a href = "cook_islands_chiefs.html">Executive branch</a>:</b><br> <i>chief of state:</i> Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by Sir Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner John CARTER (since 29 July 2011) <br><i>head of government:</i> Prime Minister Henry PUNA (since 30 November 2010) <br><i>cabinet:</i> Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament <br><i>elections:</i> the monarchy is hereditary; the UK representative appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#legislative_branch">Legislative branch:</a></b><br> bicameral Parliament consists of a House of Ariki, or upper house, made up of traditional leaders and a Legislative Assembly, or lower house, (24 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) <br><i> <em>note:</em></i> the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers <br><i>elections:</i> last held on 17 November 2010 (next to be held by 2014) <br><i>election results:</i> percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CIP 16, Demo 8 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#judicial_branch">Judicial branch:</a></b><br> High Court <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#political_parties_and_leaders">Political parties and leaders:</a></b><br> Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE] <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#political_pressure_groups_and_leaders">Political pressure groups and leaders:</a></b><br> Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes) <br><i>other:</i> various groups lobbying for political change <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/abbreviations.html">International organization participation</a>:</b><br> ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#diplomatic_representation_in_the_us">Diplomatic representation in the US:</a></b><br> none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#diplomatic_representation_from_the_us">Diplomatic representation from the US:</a></b><br> none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/flags/">Flag</a> description:</b><br> blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#national_anthem">National anthem:</a></b><br> <i>name:</i> "Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty) <div id="mediaplayer" style="height: 23px;"> <script type="text/javascript" src="jwplayer.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> jwplayer("mediaplayer").setup({ 'flashplayer' : "player.swf", 'file': "../anthems/CW.mp3", 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '370', 'height': '23' }); </script> <br><i>lyrics/music:</i> Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS <br><i> <em>note:</em></i> adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the anthem; his wife, a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics </font> <p> <p> <BR> <P> <font size = "-2"><B> NOTE: The information regarding Cook Islands on this page is re-published from the 2012 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Cook Islands Government 2012 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Cook Islands Government 2012 should be addressed to the CIA. </B></font> </P> <br> <hr> <a href="#" onClick="AddToFaves_hp()"><img src="http://www.theodora.com/images/bookmark_banner.gif" align="left" width="176" height="52" border="0"></a><font color=brown> - Please bookmark this page (add it to your favorites). <br> - If you wish to <b>link</b> to this page, you can do so by referring to the URL address below this line.</font> <hr> http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/cook_islands/cook_islands_government.html <br><br> This page was last modified 06-Mar-12 <br> Copyright &copy 1995-2012 <a href="http://www.theodora.com/ita.html">ITA</a> all rights reserved. <br> </td> <td width=200 valign="top" align="left" background="http://www.theodora.com/wfb2008/images/light_blue.gif"> <!-- SiteSearch Google --> <br> <form action="http://www.google.com/cse" id="cse-search-box"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-7437757543052749:i8v5yg-obf2" /> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1" /> <input type="text" name="q" size="26" /> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search" /> </div> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box&lang=en"></script> <!-- End SiteSearch Google --> <font size="2" face="arial"> <b> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.theodora.com/wfb">|Main INDEX|</a> <li><a href="../index.html">2012 INDEX</a> <li><a href="http://www.photius.com/rankings/index.html">Country Ranks</a> <li><a href="http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html">DEFINITIONS</a> <br><br> <a href="index.html">Cook Islands Index 2012</a> <br><br> <a href="http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/cook_islands/index.html">Cook Islands Main Index</a> <li><a href="cook_islands_introduction.html">Introduction</a> <li><a href="cook_islands_geography.html">Geography</a> <li>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theodora.com/maps">Maps</a><br> <li><a href="cook_islands_people.html">People</a><br> </b> &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.photius.com/religion">Religion</a> <b><li><a href="cook_islands_government.html">Government</a><br></B> &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="cook_islands_chiefs.html"> Gov. 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