<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 1 November 1981 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 1 November 1981
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on English common law
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<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), represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March 1994)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
<item><hi format=bold>Senate:</hi> 17 member body appointed by the governor general
<item><hi format=bold>House of Representatives:</hi> elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(17 total) ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Lester Bryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), Baldwin SPENCER
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> United Progressive Party (UPP), headed by Baldwin SPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political parties—the United National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor Movement (PLM); Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), headed by Noel THOMAS
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, and, in his absence, the Embassy is headed by Charge d'Affaires Bryant J. SALTER
<item>• <hi format=ital>embassy:</hi> Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's
<item>• <hi format=ital>mailing address:</hi> FPO AA 34054-0001
<item>• <hi format=ital>telephone:</hi> (809) 462-3505 or 3506
<item>• <hi format=ital>FAX:</hi> (809) 462-3516
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band