<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 6 August 1962 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day (first Monday in August) (1962)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 6 August 1962
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Howard COOKE (since 1 August 1991)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister P. J. PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
<item><hi format=bold>Senate:</hi> consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor general
<item><hi format=bold>House of Representatives:</hi> elections last held 30 March 1993 (next to be held by February 1998); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(60 total) PNP 52, JLP 8
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> People's National Party (PNP) P. J. PATTERSON; Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Edward SEAGA
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists); New Beginnings Movement (NBM)