Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status:
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department
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:
18 years of age
Executive branch: Legislative branch: Judicial branch: Political parties and leaders: Political pressure groups and leaders: International organization participation: Diplomatic representation in the US: Diplomatic representation from the US: Flag description: National anthem:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government:
Administrator (nonresident) Brian LACY (since 5 October 2009)
cabinet:
NA
(For more information visit the )
elections:
the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)
elections:
held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2007 (next to be held in May 2009)
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
none
The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre
none
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
the flag of Australia is used
note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)