Politics of Saint Helena

Politics of Saint Helena takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Governor is the head of government. Saint Helena, an island in the southern Atlantic Ocean, is an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. It has had it's present constitution since 1 January 1989. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Legislative Council. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.

Saint Helena has two dependencies: Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. These territories have their own political structures with Administrators under the Governor of Saint Helena

Executive Branch

!align=left|Queen
Elizabeth II |
6 February 1952
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Governor and Commander in Chief
Andrew Gurr |
October 2007The Executive Council consists of the governor, three ex officio officers (one, the Attorney General, having no vote), and five elected members of the Legislative Council. The monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch.

Legislative Branch

The Legislative Council has 15 members, 12 members elected for a four year term by popular vote and 3 members ex officio.

Political parties and elections

According to the Saint Helena Herald, at the last elections, June 2005, only non-partisans have been elected. In June 2001 the turnout was 44 %. Saint Helena does not have active political parties. The Saint Helena Labour Party and Saint Helena Progressive Party existed until 1976.

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

International organization participation

* ITUC