The Government of Cook Islands - The World Countries

Cook Islands - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Cook Islands, it was named after Captain James COOK, the British explorer who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary democracy type and the different Administrative divisions includes: none

National symbols

A circle of 15, five-pointed, white stars on a blue field, Tiare maori (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: green, white.

The flag

The National flag of Cook Islands has blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag.

The National Anthem

Title	"Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty)
Lyric/music	Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS

note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the anthem; his wife, a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics

More about the government of Cook Islands

Constitution
Date of Independence	4 August 1965 (Cook Islands became self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)
National holiday	Constitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965)
Legal system	common law similar to New Zealand common law
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	4 August 1965 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964)
Amendments	Proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Parliament membership in each of several readings and assent of the chief of state’s representative; passage of amendments relating to the chief of state also requires two-thirds majority approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2004
Executive Branch
Chief of state	King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Sir Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand High Commissioner Catherine GRAHAM (since April 2024)
Head of government	Prime Minister Mark BROWN (since 1 October 2020)
Cabinet	Cabinet chosen by the prime minister
Elections/appointments	the monarchy is hereditary; UK representative appointed by the monarch; New Zealand high commissioner appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral Parliament, formerly the Legislative Assembly (24 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the House of Ariki, a 24-member parliamentary body of traditional leaders appointed by the King's representative serves as a consultative body to the Parliament
Elections	Last held on 1 August 2022 (next to be held by 2026)
Election results	Percent of vote by party - CIP 44%, Demo 26.9%, Cook Islands United Party 26.9%, OCI 2.7%, other 0.2% independent 7.3%; seats by party - CIP 12, Demo 5, Cook Islands United Party 3, OCI 1, independent 3; composition - men 18, women 6, percentage women 25%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges of the High Court); High Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and land divisions); note - appeals beyond the Cook Islands Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office	High Court chief justice appointed by the Queen's Representative on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the Queen's Representative, on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the chief justice, High Court chief justice, and the minister of justice; chief justice and judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms
Subordinate courts	Justices of the peace
Diplomatic representation in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US
Embassy	None (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)