| Country name: |
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
| Government type: |
NA |
| Capital: |
name: West Island
geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: |
none (territory of Australia) |
| Independence: |
none (territory of Australia) |
| National holiday: |
Australia Day, 26 January (1788) |
| Constitution: |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992 |
| Legal system: |
based upon the laws of Australia and local laws |
| Suffrage: |
NA |
| Executive branch: |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia |
| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007) |
| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court |
| Political parties and leaders: |
none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
none |
| International organization participation: |
none |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
none (territory of Australia) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
none (territory of Australia) |
| Flag description: |
the flag of Australia is used |
