What is the capital of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha?
Country Name | none |
Full Country Name | Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha |
Etymology- history of name | Saint Helena was discovered in 1502 by Galician navigator Joao da NOVA, sailing in the service of the Kingdom of Portugal, who named it "Santa Helena"; Ascension was named in 1503 by Portuguese navigator Afonso de ALBUQUERQUE who sighted the island on the Feast Day of the Ascension; Tristan da Cunha was discovered in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristao da CUNHA who christened the main island after himself (the name was subsequently anglicized) |
Government Type | parliamentary democracy |
Capital Name | Jamestown |
Capital - geographic coordinate | 15 56 S, 5 43 W |
Capital Time Difference | UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
Independence | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
National Holiday | Official birthday of King Charles III, April or June as designated by the governor |
Constitution | history: several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009) |
Dependency Status | overseas territory of the UK |
Who is the president of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha?
Executive Branch: |
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022) head of government: Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 13 August 2022) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch note: the constitution order provides for an administrator for Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, appointed by the governor |
Citizenship Criteria: | see United Kingdom |
Legal System: | English common law and local statutes |
Suffrage: | 18 years of age |
Legislative Branch: |
description: unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats including the speaker and deputy speaker; 12 members directly elected in a single countrywide constituency by simple majority vote and 3 ex-officio members - the chief secretary, financial secretary, and attorney general; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 13 October 2021 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 12; composition - men 14, women 3, percent women 17.6% note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha |
Judicial Branch: |
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice - a nonresident - and NA judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor acting upon the instructions from a secretary of state acting on behalf of King CHARLES III; justices of both courts serve until retirement at age 70, but terms can be extended subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court; Small Claims Court; Juvenile Court |
Regions or States: | 3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha |
Political Parties and Leaders: | none |
International Organization Participation: | UPU |
Diplomatic Representation in the US: | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Diplomatic Representation from US: | embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK) |