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| Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Cook Islands
former:
Harvey Islands
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| Dependency status: |
self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands
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| Government type: |
self-governing parliamentary democracy
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| Administrative divisions: |
none
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| Independence: |
none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
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| National holiday: |
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
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| Constitution: |
4 August 1965
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| Legal system: |
based on New Zealand law and English common law
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| Suffrage: |
NA years of age; universal adult
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| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of New Zealand
head of government:
Prime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA)
cabinet:
Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister
note:
ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS; WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister
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| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1
note:
the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
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| Judicial branch: |
High Court
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| Political parties and leaders: |
Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Tai CARPENTER]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
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| International organization participation: |
ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
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| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
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| Flag description: |
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag
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