Gibraltar - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Gibraltar, it was from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic "Jabal Tariq," which means "Mountain of Tariq" and which refers to the Rock of Gibraltar. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK type and the different Administrative divisions includes: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National symbols
Barbary macaque; national colors: red, white, yellow.
The flag
The National flag of Gibraltar has two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band; the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July 1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Gibraltar Anthem" |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Peter EMBERLEY |
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note: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem; as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)
More about the government of Gibraltar
| Date of Independence | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain |
| Legal system | the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply |
| International law organization participation | |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007 |
| Amendments | Proposed by Parliament and requires prior consent of the British monarch (through the Secretary of State); passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in Parliament followed by simple majority vote in a referendum; note – only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament |
| Citizenship | |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020) |
| Head of government | Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister |
| Elections/appointments | the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed chief minister by the governor |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | Parliament |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 18 (17 directly elected, 1 appointed) |
| Electoral system | Plurality/majority |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 4 years |
| Most recent election date | 10/12/2023 |
| Parties elected and seats per party | GSLP-Liberal Alliance (9) (GSLP 7, LPG 2); GSD (8) |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 38.5% |
| Expected date of next election | October 2027 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Court of Appeal (consists of at least 3 judges, including the court president); Supreme Court of Gibraltar (consists of the chief justice and 3 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 judges appointed by the governor upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 7-member body of judges and appointees of the governor; tenure of the Court of Appeal president based on terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice and judges normally appointed until retirement at age 67 but tenure can be extended 3 years |
| Subordinate courts | Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Embassy | None (overseas territory of the UK) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Gibraltar
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Gibraltar
Want to know more about Gibraltar? Check all different factbooks for Gibraltar below.
