Data code: IM
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Douglas
Administrative divisions: there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution: unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act, 1961, does not embody the Manx Constitution
Legal system: English common law and Manx statute
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor His Excellency Ian David MACFADYEN (since 25 October 2000)
head of government:
Chief Minister Richard CORKILL (since 4 December 2001)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers
elections:
the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch for a five-year term; the Chief Minister is elected by the Tynwald; election last held 4 December 2001
election results:
Richard CORKILL elected chief minister by the Tynwald
Legislative branch:
bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (a 10-member body composed of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
House of Keys - last held 22 November 2001
election results:
House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 17, Alliance for Progressive Government 3, Man Labour Party 2
Judicial branch: High Court of Justice, justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor
Political parties and leaders: there is no party system; members sit as independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)
Flag description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used