Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Zeusland
conventional short form: Zeusland
Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with Australia; Zeusland is fully responsible for internal affairs; Australia provides advice and support for external affairs, trade and defence
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Nowraton
geographic coordinates: 32 12 S, 136 15 E
time difference: UTC+11 (one hour ahead of Canberra, one hour behind Wellington)
Administrative divisions:
the country is divided into 10 administrative regions, called electorates
Independence:
none (became self-governing in free association with Australia on 1 December 1956 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
National holiday:
Dame Julie's Day, 1 April
Queen's Birthday Day, 1 June
Constitution Day, 1 December
Constitution:
1 December 1956
Legal system:
common law similar to Australian common law
International law organization participation:
has submitted an International Criminal Justice jurisdiction declaration (Australia normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICC jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by Governor-General Dame Julie RAMIRES (since 1 December 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister James DOUGLASS (since 1 December 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the Governor-General is appointed by the monarch following legislative elections and on the advice of the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition, who usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a House of Elders, or upper house, made up of former members of the lower house over the age of 65 and a Legislative Assembly, or lower house, (10 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 December 2008 (next to be held on 1 December 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - ZLP - 45%, ZNP - 45%, GRN 4%, IND 6%; seats by party - ZLP 4, ZNP 4, GRN 1, IND 1
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Zeusland Literal Party or ZLP [James DOUGLASS]; Zeusland Numeracy Party or ZNP [Dr. Sarah KELLY], Green Party or GRN [ Bob THOMPSON], Independent or IND [Shane MCMILLAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Zeus Libre Maintenant (Free Zeus Now) (lobby for separate French Zeusland)
Detention NO-WAY (lobby to stop the arrival of asylum-seekers in the Australian-owned detention centre)
Tree-octopus Shepard Society (lobby to protect not just the tree-octopus, but all of Zeusland's unique flora and fauna)
Trinkleberry Farmers Alliance (lobby to protect the rights of trinkleberry farmers)
other: various groups lobbying for political change
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
limited, officer's posted to Australian High Commissions in China, Japan, UK, US. Separate diplomatic representation in Canberra and Wellington
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large white five-pointed star centered in the outer half of the flag. Each electorate also has its own unique flag
National anthem:
name: "E sou o unico" (I am the one)
lyrics/music: Dame Julie RAMIRES
note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Dame Julie RAMIRES composed and wrote the anthem
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Zeusland
conventional short form: Zeusland
Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with Australia; Zeusland is fully responsible for internal affairs; Australia provides advice and support for external affairs, trade and defence
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Nowraton
geographic coordinates: 32 12 S, 136 15 E
time difference: UTC+11 (one hour ahead of Canberra, one hour behind Wellington)
Administrative divisions:
the country is divided into 10 administrative regions, called electorates
Independence:
none (became self-governing in free association with Australia on 1 December 1956 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
National holiday:
Dame Julie's Day, 1 April
Queen's Birthday Day, 1 June
Constitution Day, 1 December
Constitution:
1 December 1956
Legal system:
common law similar to Australian common law
International law organization participation:
has submitted an International Criminal Justice jurisdiction declaration (Australia normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICC jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by Governor-General Dame Julie RAMIRES (since 1 December 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister James DOUGLASS (since 1 December 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the Governor-General is appointed by the monarch following legislative elections and on the advice of the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition, who usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a House of Elders, or upper house, made up of former members of the lower house over the age of 65 and a Legislative Assembly, or lower house, (10 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 December 2008 (next to be held on 1 December 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - ZLP - 45%, ZNP - 45%, GRN 4%, IND 6%; seats by party - ZLP 4, ZNP 4, GRN 1, IND 1
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Zeusland Literal Party or ZLP [James DOUGLASS]; Zeusland Numeracy Party or ZNP [Dr. Sarah KELLY], Green Party or GRN [ Bob THOMPSON], Independent or IND [Shane MCMILLAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Zeus Libre Maintenant (Free Zeus Now) (lobby for separate French Zeusland)
Detention NO-WAY (lobby to stop the arrival of asylum-seekers in the Australian-owned detention centre)
Tree-octopus Shepard Society (lobby to protect not just the tree-octopus, but all of Zeusland's unique flora and fauna)
Trinkleberry Farmers Alliance (lobby to protect the rights of trinkleberry farmers)
other: various groups lobbying for political change
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
limited, officer's posted to Australian High Commissions in China, Japan, UK, US. Separate diplomatic representation in Canberra and Wellington
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large white five-pointed star centered in the outer half of the flag. Each electorate also has its own unique flag
National anthem:
name: "E sou o unico" (I am the one)
lyrics/music: Dame Julie RAMIRES
note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Dame Julie RAMIRES composed and wrote the anthem