What is the capital of Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
Country Name | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
Full Country Name | Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
Etymology- history of name | the name refers to the abundant coconut trees on the islands and to English Captain William KEELING, the first European to sight the islands in 1609 |
Government Type | non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia |
Capital Name | West Island |
Capital - geographic coordinate | 12 10 S, 96 50 E |
Capital Time Difference | UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
Independence | none (territory of Australia) |
National Holiday | Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788) |
Constitution |
history: 23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955) amendments: amended many times, last in 2016 |
Dependency Status | non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport |
Who is the president of Cocos (Keeling) Islands?
Executive Branch: |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014) head of government: Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2018) cabinet: NA elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor general for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia |
Citizenship Criteria: | see Australia |
Legal System: | common law based on the Australian model |
Suffrage: | 18 years of age |
Legislative Branch: |
description: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with half the membership renewed every 2 years) elections: last held in October 2017 (next to be held on 31 October 2019) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 5, women 2, percent of women 28.6% |
Judicial Branch: | highest court(s): under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court) |
Regions or States: | none (territory of Australia) |
Political Parties and Leaders: | none |
International Organization Participation: | none |
Diplomatic Representation in the US: | none (territory of Australia) |
Diplomatic Representation from US: | none (territory of Australia) |