"text":"Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the EU. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation."
"text":"UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
},
"daylight saving time":{
"text":"+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"
}
},
"Administrative divisions":{
"text":"none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale"
},
"Independence":{
"text":"none (British crown dependency)"
},
"National holiday":{
"text":"Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)"
},
"Constitution":{
"text":"unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice"
"text":"the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister indirectly elected by States of Deliberation; last held on 27 April 2016 (next to be held in 2020)"
"text":"unicameral States of Deliberation (40 seats; 38 People's Deputies and 2 representatives of the States of Alderney; members directly elected by majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general"
"text":"Guernsey Court of Appeal (consists of the Bailiff of Guernsey, who is the ex-officio president of the Guernsey Court of Appeal, and at least 12 judges); Royal Court (organized into 3 divisions - Full Court sits with 1 judge and 7 to 12 jurats acting as judges of fact, Ordinary Court sits with 1 judge and normally 3 jurats, and Matrimonial Causes Division sits with a 1 judge and 4 jurats); note - appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)"
"text":"Royal Court Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, and Court of Appeal justices appointed by the British Crown and hold office at Her Majesty's pleasure; jurats elected by the States of Election, a body chaired by the Bailiff and a number of jurats"
"text":"Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrate's Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas"
}
},
"Political parties and leaders":{
"text":"none; all independents"
},
"Political pressure groups and leaders":{
"text":"No More Masts [Colin FALLAIZE] ++ Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS"
},
"International organization participation":{
"text":"UPU"
},
"Diplomatic representation in the US":{
"text":"none (British crown dependency)"
},
"Diplomatic representation from the US":{
"text":"none (British crown dependency)"
},
"Flag description":{
"text":"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; the red cross represents the old ties with England and the fact that Guernsey is a British Crown dependency; the gold cross is a replica of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings"
},
"National symbol(s)":{
"text":"Guernsey cow, donkey; national colors: red, white, yellow"
},
"National anthem":{
"name":{
"text":"\"Sarnia Cherie\" (Guernsey Dear)"
},
"lyrics/music":{
"text":"George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO"
},
"note":{
"text":"adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, \"God Save the Queen\" remains official (see United Kingdom)"
}
}
},
"Economy":{
"Economy - overview":{
"text":"Financial services account for about 40% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. In October 2014, Guernsey signed an OECD agreement to automatically exchange some financial account information to limit tax avoidance and evasion."
"text":"multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)"
