Government & politics — Gibraltar
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Government & politics at a glance
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations. Key figure for Gibraltar: None
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Identity & names
- Full Country Name
None
- Country Name
Gibraltar
- Etymology- history of name
From the Spanish derivation of the Arabic "Jabal Tariq," which means "Mountain of Tariq" and which refers to the Rock of Gibraltar
- Independence
None (overseas territory of the UK)
- National Holiday
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain
Political system
- Government Type
Parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
- Constitution
- History: Previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006,
- entered into force 2 January 2007 Amendments: Proposed by Parliament and requires prior consent of the British monarch (through the Secretary of State); passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in Parliament followed by simple majority vote in a referendum; note – only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament
- Legal System:
The laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
- Executive Branch:
- ZABETH II (6 February 1952 - 8 September 2022) chief of State: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020) Previous Queen ELIZABE
- Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of Parliament by the governor i
- n consultation with the chief minister Elections/Appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
- Legislative Branch:
Description
Unicameral Parliament (18 seats; 17 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by majority vote and 1 appointed by Parliament as speaker; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections
Last held on 17 October 2019 (next to be held by February 2024)
Election Results
- Percent of vote by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 58.8% (GSLP 41.2%, LPG 17.6%), GSD 35.3%, TG 5.8%, independent 1.4%
- seats by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 10 (GSLP 7, LPG 3), GSD 6, TG 1
- composition including Parliament speaker - men 16, women 2, percent of women 11.1%
- Judicial Branch:
- Highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of at least 3 judges, including the court president); Supreme Court of Gibraltar (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges); Note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the
- Privy Council (in London) Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 7-member body of judges and appointees of the governor; tenure of the Court of Appeal president based on terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice and judges normally appointed until retirement at
- age 67 but tenure can be extended 3 years Subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment
- Regions or States:
None (overseas territory of the UK)
- Political Parties and Leaders:
- Gibraltar Liberal Party or Liberal Party of Gibraltar or LPG [Joseph GARCIA]
- Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Keith AZOPARDI]
- Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Fabian PICARDO]
- Together Gibraltar or TG [Marlene HASSAN-NAHON]
- Suffrage:
- 18 years of age
- universal
- and British citizens with six months residence or more
- Citizenship Criteria:
See United Kingdom
Capital & time
- Capital Name
Gibraltar
- Capital - geographic coordinate
36 08 N, 5 21 W
- Capital Time Difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Daylight Savings Time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
International role
- International Organization Participation:
ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU
- Diplomatic Representation from US:
Embassy
None (overseas territory of the UK)
- Diplomatic Representation in the US:
- None (overseas territory of the UK)
- Dependency Status
Overseas territory of the UK
