Channel Islands
Guernsey
Full Name: Bailiwick of Guernsey
Capital: Saint Peter Port
Population: 65,228
National Holiday : Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Dependency Status: British crown dependency

Executive Branch of Government:
Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian Malbon

Head of Government: Chief Minister Laurie MORGAN (since 1 May 2004)

Cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation

Elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Delibertion

Legal System: English law and local statutes

Legislative Branch: Unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for 4 years); Alderney and Sark have their own parliaments.

Judicial Branch: Royal Court

History: The island of 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.

Economic Overview: Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.

Currency: GBP (also Guernsey Pound)
GDP: £1.59 billion (2003 est.)
GDP By Sector: agriculture: 3%, industry: 10%, services: 87% (2000)