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GovernmentCountry name
Conventional long form None
Conventional short form Bermuda Former Somers Islands Dependency status
Overseas territory of the UK
Government type
Parliamentary; self-governing territory Capital
Name Hamilton
Geographic coordinates 32 17 N, 64 47 W Time difference UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Daylight saving time +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick Independence
None (overseas territory of the UK) Constitution
8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003 Legal system
English common law
International law organization participation
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor George FERGUSSON (since 23 May 2012) Head of government Premier Paula COX (since 29 October 2010); Deputy Premier Derrick BURGESS Cabinet Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor Elections The monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor Legislative branch
Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition to serve a five-year term) and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms) Elections Last general election held on 18 December 2007 (next to be held not later than 2012) Election results Percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14 Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Chief Justice and other justices appointed by the governor; remain in office until they reach 65 years of age); Court of Appeal (President of the Court of Appeal and other justices appointed by the governor for a specific period laid out in their respective instruments of appointment); Magistrate Courts Political parties and leaders
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Kim SWAN] Political pressure groups and leaders
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES] International organization participation
Caricom (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO Diplomatic representation in the us
None (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the us
Chief of mission
Consul General Grace W. SHELTON Consulate(s) general Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3 Mailing address P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, US Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300 Telephone [1] (441) 295-1342FAX [1] (441) 295-1592, 296-9233 Flag description
Red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (a white shield with a red lion standing on a green grassy field holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag; it was the shipwreck of the vessel, filled with English colonists originally bound for Virginia, that led to settling of Bermuda Note The flag is unusual in that it is only British overseas territory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue National symbol(s)
Red lion
National anthem
Name "Hail to Bermuda"
Lyrics/music Bette JOHNS Note Serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
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Bermuda [ United Kingdom ] (Overseas Territory):
 
GPS points from Bermuda [ United Kingdom ] (Overseas Territory)
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Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has also developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995.