Country name:
conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
conventional short form: none

Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK

Government type:
NA

Capital:
name: Jamestown
geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha

Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:
The Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009, effective 1 September 2009

Legal system:
English common law and statutes supplemented by local statutes

Suffrage:
NA

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Andrew GURR (since 11 November 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council (For more information visit the  )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (17 seats, including a speaker and deputy speaker, 12 elected, and three ex officio members; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
note: the Constitution Order provides for separate Island Councils for both Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
elections: last held on 4 November 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 12

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: private sector; unions

International organization participation:
UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the upper third of the shield depicts a white plover (wire bird) on a yellow field; the remainder of the shield depicts a rocky coastline on the left, offshore is a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled but flying an English flag

National anthem:
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)