government: Parliamentary republic

state of civil and political rights: Free

constitution: 3 November 1978; amended several times, last in 2015

legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

legislative system: unicameral House of Assembly

judicial system: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 in Dominica; Court of Summary Jurisdiction; magistrates' courts

religion: Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 29.7% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%, Pentecostal 6.1%, Baptist 5.2%, Christian Union Church 3.9%, Methodist 2.6%, Gospel Mission 2.1%, other Protestant 3.1%), Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 4.3%, none 9.4%, unspecified 1.4% (2011 est.)

death row: 0

year of last executions: 0-8-1986

death sentences: 0

executions: 0