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Government and Politics of Falkland Islands
Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Falkland Islands.
Government Structure
Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.
- Government Type
- NA
- Administrative Divisions
- none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
- Legal System
- English common law
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship
- See United Kingdom
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented locally by Governor Alison BLAKE (since March 2022) head of government: Governor Alison BLAKE (since March 2022); Chief Executive Andy KEELING (since 2021); Director of Finance Patrick DOYLE (since NA) cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Assembly, two ex officio members (chief executive and the director of finance), and the governor elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
- Legislative Branch
- Unicameral Legislative Assembly (11 seats — three ex officio members and eight elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor. Elections: Last held on 4 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025). Election results: Percent of vote — NA; seats — independents 8.
- Judicial Branch
- Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction
- Political Parties
- none; all independents
- Head of State
- King CHARLES III
- Head of Government
- Governor Alison BLAKE (since March 2022)
- Cabinet
- Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor
- Elections
- Last held on 4 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025).
- Election Results
- Percent of vote — NA; seats — independents 8.
- Constitution
- 3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
- Independence
- none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
- National Holiday
- Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
- International Organization Participation
- ICFTU
- Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.
- none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
- U.S. Diplomatic Representation
- none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Capital City
Seat of government and political history.
- Capital City
- Stanley
- Location
- 51 42 S, 57 51 W
- Time Difference
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- History
- Named after Edward SMITH-STANLEY (1799-1869), the 14th Earl of Derby, a British statesman and three-time prime minister of the UK who never visited the islands
Military
Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.
- Military Branches
- No regular military forces
National Symbols
Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT