Before 1981 they were known as Crowncolonies. The British Overseas Territories are also referred to asoverseas territories of the United Kingdom,[1]UK overseas territories,[2] or when the context is clear, simplythe Overseas Territories.[3]There are fourteen[3] territories under theUnited Kingdom'ssovereignty.[4]
Each of the British Overseas Territories has agovernment,parliament, andprime minister to amend alllaws, except laws aboutforeign affairs anddefense. TheBritish government manages its defense and foreign affairs. British Overseas Territories which have no local population or any population, have no localself-rule. If the British Overseas Territory is ruled badly, the government of the British Overseas Territory can be taken over by the British government and ruled directly by it, without the agreement of the British Overseas Territory.
The territories ofJersey,Guernsey , and theIsle of Man, though under the sovereignty of theBritish Crown, have a slightly differentconstitutional relationship with the United Kingdom, so they are classed asCrown dependencies rather than Overseas Territories. Unlike British Overseas Territories, the British government cannot take over the government of a Crown dependency, unless the government of the Crown dependency agrees. Territories and dependencies are distinct from theCommonwealth of Nations, a voluntary association of formerBritish colonies which areindependentcountries.
In a historical context, colonies should be distinguished fromprotectorates andprotected states, which though under British control, were nominally independent states, whereas colonies were part of the British state. They should also not be confused withDominions, which, known collectively asthe Commonwealth, were independent states, held to be equal in sovereign status to the United Kingdom within the Empire and Commonwealth after theStatute of Westminster in 1931. Crown colonies, such asHong Kong, were differentiated from other colonies in being administered directly by the Crown, without the degree of local autonomy found in self-governed colonies and other British Overseas Territories such asBermuda.
The head of state in the Overseas Territories is theBritish monarch, presentlyKing Charles III. The King’s role in the territories is in his role as King of the United Kingdom, and not in the right of each territory. The monarch appoints a representative in each territory to exercise their executive power.
All the Overseas Territories have their system of government and localized laws. The structure of the government appears to be closely correlated to the size and political development of the territory.
There is no elected government and currently has no native settled population. However, theChagos Islanders - who were forcibly evicted from the territory in1971 and might reasonably considered to be that territory's people - are currently defending an appeal against aBritish High Court judgment which quashed anOrder preventing them from returning. Following resumed negotiations a treaty was signed in2025 and will formally transfer the sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius once it comes into effect, while the Diego Garcia military base remains under British control during a 99-year lease.[5][6]
There is no elected government, however, the British military authorities try to ensure the convergence of laws with those of the Republic of Cyprus where possible.
There is an elected Mayor and Island Council, who have the power to propose and administer local legislation. However, their decisions are subject to approval by the Governor, who retains near-unlimited powers of plenary legislation on behalf of the United Kingdom Government.
The Government consists of an elected Legislative Council. The Governor is the head of government and leads the Executive Council, consisting of appointed members made up of the Legislative Council and twoex-office members.
These larger territories have a larger Legislative Council, with political parties. The Executive Council is usually called a cabinet and is led by aChief Minister (except in the Cayman Islands, which have aLeader of Government Business), who is the leader of the majority party in parliament. The Governor exercises less power over local affairs and deals mostly with foreign affairs and economic issues, while the elected government controls most "domestic" concerns.
Under the 2006 constitution which was approved in Gibraltar by a referendum, Gibraltar now has a Parliament. The Government, headed by theChief Minister is elected. Defence, external affairs, and internal security vest in the Governor as a matter of distribution of powers. The UK administers absolutely nothing in Gibraltar.[7]
Bermuda, settled in 1609, is the oldest and most populous of the Overseas Territories, and most executive powers have been devolved to the head of government, known as thePremiers. Its system of government is very similar to that of a sovereignCommonwealth Realm. The UK government retains only minor powers, exercised through theGovernor, but most of those are handed to local ministers for day-to-day purposes. Bermuda'sParliament held its first session in 1620, and Bermuda has been largely self-governed and self-sufficient since then.
The Turks and Caicos Islands adopted a new constitution effective9 August2006; their head of government now also has the titlePremier, and their autonomy has been greatly increased.
Each Overseas Territory has its legal system independent of the United Kingdom. The legal system is generally based onEnglish common law, with some distinctions for local circumstances. Each territory has its ownAttorney General, andcourt system. The British government may appoint a UK-based lawyer or judge to work on legal cases for the smaller territories. This is particularly important for cases involving serious crimes and where it is impossible to find ajury who will not know theDefendant in a small population island.
Simon Winchester:Outposts: Travel to the Remains of the British Empire (published in 1985 in the UK asOutposts: Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire also in the US asThe Sun Never Sets: Travels to the Remaining Outposts of the British Empire.)
.jpg)
