<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Cook Islands<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> none
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Cook Islands
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> CW
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> self-governing parliamentary government 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
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 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)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Constitution Day, 4 August
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 4 August 1965
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> NA
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> universal adult at age NA
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Representative of the Queen Apenera SHORT (since NA); Representative of New Zealand Adrian SINCOCK (since NA)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Geoffrey HENRY (since 1 February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; collectively responsible to the Parliament
<item><hi format=bold>Parliament:</hi> elections last held 24 March 1994 (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(25 total) Cook Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Alliance Party 2
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> High Court
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY; Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena JONASSEN; Cook Islands People's Party, Sadaraka SADARAKA; Alliance, Norman GEORGE
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi> none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
<item><hi format=bold>US diplomatic representation:</hi> none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> 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