ns as defined by the US Government,
but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud

Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum
on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is
scheduled for 2014

National holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to
the islands; formerly under French law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC
(since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner Thierry LATASTE
(since 19 July 1999) elections: French president elected by popular
vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French
president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president
of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress
head of government: Consultative Committee

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres
Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial
Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) elections: last held 9 May 1999 (next to be held NA
2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RPCR 24, FLNKS 12, UNI 6, FCCI 4, FN 4, Alliance pour la Caledonie 3,
LKS 1 note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections
last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2007); results
- percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; New Caledonia
also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last
held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held: first round - 9 June 2002;
second round 16 June 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - RPR 2

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint
Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court

Political parties and leaders: Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier
LE ROUX]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des Independantistes
or FCCI [Raphael MAPOU]; Front National or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Front Uni de
Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Kanak Socialist Front for National
Liberation or FLNKS [Rock WAMYTAN] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM);
Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE];
Rally for Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Uni