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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the UK
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Government type:
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NA
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Capital:
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name: Gibraltar
geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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Administrative divisions:
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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National holiday:
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National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
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Constitution:
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5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007
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Legal system:
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the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by popular vote, 1 for the Speaker appointed by Parliament; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later than October 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%, Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4, Gibraltar Liberal Party 3
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
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Political parties and leaders:
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Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association
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International organization participation:
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Interpol (subbureau), UPU
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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Flag description:
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two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
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