)

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice

Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is administered
by the Royal Court

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952)

head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief Lt.
Gen. Sir John FOLEY (since NA 2000) and Bailiff De Vic G. CAREY
(since NA)

cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee appointed by the Assembly
of the States

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor
appointed by the monarch; bailiff appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States; consists of
the Bailiff, 10 Douzaine (parish council) representatives, 45
People's Deputies elected by popular franchise, 2 Alderney
representatives, HM Procureur (Attorney General), HM Comptroller
(Solicitor General) and HM Greffier (Court Recorder and Registrar
General)

elections: last held 12 April 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)

election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents

Judicial branch: Royal Court

Political parties and leaders: none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders: none

International organization participation: none

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown
dependency)

Flag description: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron
saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow
equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint
George cross

Guernsey Economy

Economy - overview: Financial services - banking, fund management,
insurance, etc. - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny
Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture,
mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and
death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving
economic integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the
game under which Guernsey operates.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 5.7% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $20,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3%

industry: 10%

services: 87% (2000)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage s