al holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law with special adaptations for local
conditions, such as housing and taxation

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Francois CARENCO (since NA 1996)
head of government: President of the General Council Bernard LE SOAVEC
(since NA 1996)
cabinet: NA
elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice
of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council
is elected by the members of the council

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19
seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected
by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA April
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 15,
other 4
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); results - percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 1;
Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); results-percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party-UDF 1

Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur
d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party or PS; Rassemblement
pour la Republique or RPR; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

International organization participation: FZ, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity of
France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity
of France)

Flag description: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue
background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a
vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red with a
green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white
cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part has a
white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red
background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one on
top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions

@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Economy

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