Constitution and Government
The Cayman Islands are a British Colony (they are a British Overseas Territory under the British Nationality Act, 1981 as amended by the British Overseas Territories Act 2002) and as such are the responsibility of the British Government in London.
However, for all practical purposes they are governed under the Cayman Islands (Constitution) Orders 1972 and 1984 (S.I.1972 No. 1101 and S.I. 1984 No. 126, which gives executive and legislative power to a Governor, an Executive Council and a Legislative Assembly. Accordingly the Cayman Islands enjoy a large measure of self-government.
The Governor is appointed by the British Government and has overall responsibility for the administration of the Islands. Government policy is made by an Executive Council consisting of the Governor, three senior civil servants and five ministers, who are elected members of the Legislative Assembly appointed by their fellow members. There are ministerial portfolios, and Government departments, which are staffed by civil servants; members of the Executive Council each have particular areas of responsibility and the Executive Council takes the form of a cabinet.
Cayman Islands are entirely responsible for passing their own laws, as the British Government will only intervene in an emergency. Legislation is initiated by the Executive Council, and must be passed by the Legislative Assembly, which consists of the Speaker as President, three senior civil servants ex officio and fifteen elected members.
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