Most of the languages other than English spoken in the territories contain a large degree of English, either as a root language, or in codeswitching, e.g. For these residents, registration as full British citizens then required physical residence in the UK proper. Through a process of decolonisation following the Second World War, most of the British colonies in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean gained independence. Individual overseas territories have legislative independence over immigration, and consequently, BOTC status does not automatically grant the right of abode in any of the territories, as it depends on the territory's immigration laws. The long-running dispute was referred in 2017 to the International Court of Justice, which issued an advisory opinion on 25 February 2019 which supported the position of the Government of Mauritius. Prior to 1 January 1983, the territories were officially referred to as British Crown Colonies. Full British citizenship[64] has been granted to most 'belongers' of overseas territories (mainly since the British Overseas Territories Act 2002). For other uses, see, Territories under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom, Location of the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council, Articles relating to British overseas territories, Section 5 of British Nationality Act 1983. In smaller territories, the senior officer(s) may be recruited or seconded from a UK police force, and specialist staff and equipment may be sent to assist the local force. [45], Each overseas territory has its own legal system independent of the United Kingdom. Gibraltar was not a member of the European Union in its own right, having had its representation in the European Parliament through its Members from South West England. The territory includes three regions which were administered independently as part of the Falkland Islands before 1962. The territories are members of the Commonwealth of Nations through the United Kingdom. Euro (accepted unofficially in most establishments)[citation needed], Saint Helenian pound (parity with pound sterling) Falkland Islands pound (parity with pound sterling) Geography of the Territories of the United States, Geography of the Windward and Leeward Islands, M.A., Geography, California State University - East Bay, B.A., English and Geography, California State University - Sacramento. The following is a list of the 14 British Overseas Territories arranged by land area. The British Overseas Territories have more biodiversity than the entire UK mainland. [78], Shara Proctor from Anguilla, Delano Williams from the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jenaya Wade-Fray from Bermuda[79] and Georgina Cassar from Gibraltar strived to represent Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. Indian troops replacing 10,000 British troops captured by the Turks in Iraq, 1916. List of Commonwealth countries, British Overseas Territories, British Crown Dependencies and EU member states . They include: The 14 British overseas territories use a varied assortment of currencies, including the Euro, British pound, United States dollar, New Zealand dollar, or their own currencies, which may be pegged to one of these. Although the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man are also under the sovereignty of the British monarch, they are in a different constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom. [45] The Queen appoints a representative in each territory to exercise her executive power. Overseas citizens held concurrent European Union citizenship, having given them rights of free movement across all EU member states. [83], The UK created the largest continuous marine protected areas in the world, the Chagos Marine Protected Area, and announced in 2015 funding to establish a new, larger, reserve around the Pitcairn Islands. The Southern part of BAT was named Queen Elizabeth Land in honor of the queen. The British Overseas Territories generally look after their own policing matters and have their own police forces. The United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) also represents the interests of the territories in London. Europe Why a no-deal Brexit has British Overseas Territories worried. And if you insist on having the Isle of Man and the "Channel Islands", although they are NOT overseas territories, then you should show them as Guernsey and Jersey - they are separate from each other despite their geographical proximity. The UK's mainland consists of the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and Northern Ireland. British overseas territories: an overview. These and other large self-governing colonies had become known as Dominions by the 1920s. Permanent residency for the approximately 7,000 civilians living in the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia is limited to citizens of the Republic of Cyprus[citation needed]. Each overseas territory has been granted its own flag and coat of arms by the British monarch. The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen territories all with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. The Commander British Forces Cyprus acts as the territory's Administrator, with a Chief Officer responsible for day-to-day running of the civil government. [33][34] The British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are themselves distinct from the Commonwealth realms, a group of 16 independent countries (including the United Kingdom) each having Elizabeth II as their reigning monarch, and from the Commonwealth of Nations, a voluntary association of 53 countries mostly with historic links to the British Empire (which also includes all Commonwealth realms). Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands are the only British Overseas Territories with recognised National Olympic Committees (NOCs); the British Olympic Association is recognised as the appropriate NOC for athletes from the other territories, and thus athletes who hold a British passport are eligible to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games. [67] This restored the right of abode in the UK to residents of overseas territories after a 34-year hiatus from 1968 to 2002. Montserrat The British Overseas Territories are also referred to as overseas territories of the United Kingdom, UK overseas territories, or when the context is clear, … Pitcairn Islands, settled by the survivors of the Mutiny on the Bounty, is the smallest settled territory with 49 inhabitants, while the smallest by land area is Gibraltar on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. There were only two exceptions: Falkland Islanders, who were automatically granted British citizenship and was treated as a part of the UK proper through the enactment of British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 due to the Falklands War with Argentina, and Gibraltarians who were given the special entitlement to be registered as British citizens upon request without further conditions because of its individual membership in the European Economic Area and the European Community.[66]. It has a long history of worldwide exploration and it is known for its historic colonies around the world. Governed by the Crown as the Head of State, currently Queen Elizabeth II, representatives are appointed in each territory to exercise the monarch’s executive power. The UK exerts its formal control through a governor of each territory, appointed by the British Monarch. This reclassified the UK's dependent territories as overseas territories and, with the exception of those people solely connected with the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus, restored full British citizenship to their inhabitants.[44]. Flag of the United Kingdom The role of the Governor is to act as the de facto head of state, and they are usually responsible for appointing the head of government, and senior political positions in the territory. It retains strong cultural ties with Britain. For reference, their populations and capital cities have also been included. Anguilla 2. [4], The fourteen British Overseas Territories are:[5]. They are the parts of the British Empire that have not been granted independence or have voted to remain British territories. For the smaller territories, the UK may appoint a UK-based lawyer or judge to work on legal cases. At the other end of the scale, three territories have no civilian population; the Antarctic territory, the British Indian Ocean Territory (from which the Chagos Islanders were controversially removed) and South Georgia. A 20-seat Legislative Assembly is elected by the people every four years to handle domestic affairs. British Virgin Islands 6. There are a total of 14 British overseas territories — 10 of which are included on the UN's list of non-self-governing territories. Each territory has its own attorney general, and court system. RedBishop +1. Missing several answers, such as Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten, Aruba, Madeira, Azores, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, … Turks and Caicos Islands A territory may issue belonger status to allow a person to reside in the territory that they have close links with. Gibraltar 9. The governments in both London and territories occasionally meet to mitigate or resolve disagreements over the process of governance in the territories and levels of autonomy.[59]. Most British Overseas Territories are self-governing but rely on the UK in crucial matters of foreign policy etc. The British originally took control of Gibraltar to control shipping and out of the Mediterranean Sea. Introduction. Collectively, the Territories encompass a population of about 250,000 people[31] and a land area of about 1,700,000 square kilometres (660,000 sq mi). It has a long history of worldwide exploration and it is known for its historic colonies around the world. Level 45. Amidst the mass decolonization of the British Rule some of the colonies remained under British Monarchy, formulating eventually into the British Overseas Territories. In territories with a permanent population, a Governor is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the British Government. BAT was formed on March 3, 1962, although the UK claimed it both in 1908 and 1917. However, territorial claims on the continent may not currently be advanced, under the holding measures of the Antarctic Treaty System. Below that are lists of university colleges and other recognised bodies (institutions with degree awarding powers), followed by a list of defunct institutions. The Queen's role in the territories is in her role as Queen of the United Kingdom, and not in right of each territory. Some of these cookies are essential, while others help us to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. The territorial evolution of the British Empire is considered to have begun with the foundation of the English colonial empire in the late 16th century. Population: 35,000 Area: 6.7 km2 (2.6 mi2) Gibraltar is the second smallest British territory and the only one which is a part of continental Europe. Pound sterling (widely circulated and accepted universally)[citation needed] The UK exerts its formal control through a governor of each territory, appointed by the British Monarch. The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen territories all with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. With the exceptions of the British Antarctic Territory and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (which host only officials and research station staff) and the British Indian Ocean Territory (used as a military base), the Territories retain permanent civilian populations. [87][88][89], In January 2016, the UK government announced the intention to create a marine protected area around Ascension Island. Antigua and Barbuda Kenya Samoa Australia Kiribati Seychelles The Bahamas Lesotho Sierra Leone Bangladesh Malawi Singapore Barbados Malaysia Solomon Islands Belize Maldives South Africa Botswana Malta Sri Lanka Brunel Darussalam … Britain provides financial assistance to the overseas territories via the Department for International Development. [73]Pitcairn Islands dollar (parity with New Zealand dollar; commemorative issue only), United States dollar (de facto)[74][75] The Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus were never part of the European Union, but they are the only British overseas territory to use the euro as official currency. The Union Flag is used in these territories. Responsibility for protection of biodiversity and meeting obligations under international environmental conventions is shared between the UK Government and the local governments of the territories. United States dollar (accepted unofficially on Ascension Island)[citation needed], United States dollar Traditionally, the flags follow the Blue Ensign design, with the Union Flag in the canton, and the territory's coat of arms in the fly. Great Britain used to control a quarter of the world, but today, they control a single autonomous region and 14 Overseas Territories. Cayman Islands 7. The Commissioner, supported by an Administrator, runs the affairs of the territory. The Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004 is an example of how the UK may choose to provide the legal framework for particular cases where the territory cannot do so alone. As far as possible, there is convergence of laws, The Government consists of an elected Legislative Council. Exceptions to this are Bermuda which uses a Red Ensign; British Antarctic Territory which uses a White Ensign, but without the overall cross of St. George; British Indian Ocean Territory which uses a Blue Ensign with wavy lines to symbolise the sea; and Gibraltar which uses a banner of its coat of arms (the flag of the city of Gibraltar). There is no elected government, as there is no native settled population. [84][85] Gibraltar's Gorham's Cave Complex is also found on the UK's tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Amanda Briney, M.A., is a professional geographer. Falkland Islands 8. British Empire, a worldwide system of dependencies— colonies, protectorates, and other territories—that over a span of some three centuries was brought under the sovereignty of the crown of Great Britain and the administration of the British government. Several of the territories in the Americas maintain membership within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community, the Caribbean Development Bank, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, and the Association of Caribbean States. St. George's town, founded in Bermuda in that year, remains the oldest continuously inhabited British settlement in the New World (with some historians stating that – its formation predating the 1619 conversion of "James Fort" into "Jamestown" – St. George's was actually the first successful town the English established in the New World). Bermuda 3. Most countries do not recognise the sovereignty claims of any other country, including Britain's, to Antarctica and its off-shore islands. Currently[when?] In 2002, the British Parliament passed the British Overseas Territories Act 2002. A British Overseas Territory is one of fourteen territories which the United Kingdom considers to be under its sovereignty, but not as part of the United Kingdom itself. The Governor is the head of government and leads the Executive Council, consisting of appointed members made up from the Legislative Council and two, These territories have a House of Assembly, Legislative Assembly (Cayman Islands and Montserrat), with political parties. Phillips Idowu tracked down... in Team GB photo – Olympic News", "About the Biodiversity of the UK Overseas Territories", "Science: UK Overseas Territories: Biodiversity", "Turks and Caicos Islands – UNESCO World Heritage Centre", "Island of St Helena – UNESCO World Heritage Centre", "World's Largest Single Marine Reserve Created in Pacific", "Pitcairn Islands get huge marine reserve", "Pitcairn Islands to get world's largest single marine reserve", "Ascension Island to become marine reserve", Outposts: Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire, Foreign and Commonwealth Office – UK Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territories Act 2002 – Text of the Act, Governors, civil commissioners, and administrators of British dependencies, Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory, Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory, Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Governors of British South African colonies, Lieutenant-Governor of Demerara-Essequibo, Governor of Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla, Governor-in-Chief of the Windward Islands, Governor-General of the West Indies Federation, Governor of Rhode-island and Providence Plantations, High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States, General Adviser to the Government of Johore, High Commissioners for Palestine and Transjordan, High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Lieutenant Governor of the Swan River Colony, List of countries by English-speaking population, List of countries where English is an official language, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_Overseas_Territories&oldid=1000475700, Dependent territories of European countries, 1983 establishments in British Overseas Territories, Articles with dead external links from November 2016, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking reliable references from June 2020, Articles containing potentially dated statements from April 2018, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from April 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2009, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from November 2020, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from November 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, "A people of excellence, moulded by nature, nurtured by God". The current Constitution, incorporating a Bill of Rights, was ordained by a statutory instrument of the United Kingdom in 2009. [61], Two national parties, UKIP and the Liberal Democrats, have endorsed calls for direct representation of overseas territories in the UK Parliament, as well as backbench members of the Conservative Party and Labour Party.[62][63]. Only the latter grants the right of abode in a specific country or territory, namely, the United Kingdom proper which includes its three Crown Dependencies. United States dollar (widely circulated and accepted universally)[citation needed], Cayman Islands dollar (pegged to US dollar at 1KYD=1.2USD), New Zealand dollar Pound sterling (widely circulated and accepted universally)[citation needed] [90], A Stoplight Parrotfish in Princess Alexandra Land and Sea National Park, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, Click on a coloured area to see an article about English in that country or region, "BOTs" redirects here. Early colonies, in the sense of English subjects residing in lands hitherto outside the control of the English government, were generally known as "Plantations". Defence of the Overseas Territories is the responsibility of the UK. 1. The, There is no elected government. Saint Helena, Saint Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, 7. 1.1 The status of "British Dependent Territory" was created by the BNA 1981 and, by virtue of a connection with such a place, a person may be or become a BDTC under Part II of the 1981 Act. Separate self-governing colonies federated to become Canada (in 1867), Australia (in 1901), South Africa (in 1910), and Rhodesia (in 1965). They all have the British monarch as head of state. Page 23", "TCI Regiment gets its first commanding officer", "South Asia :: British Indian Ocean Territory — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency", "British Indian Ocean Territory Currency", "Representing Britain...and Bermuda | Bermuda Olympics 2012", "Williams' Olympic hopes on hold for 4 more years", "At last! South Sandwich and the South Georgia Islands, 5. Since then, many territories around the world have been under the control of the United Kingdom or its predecessor states. Im Jahr 2002 verabschiedete das Parlament des Vereinigten Königreiches den British … From the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, the larger settler colonies – in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – first became self-governing colonies and then achieved independence in all matters except foreign policy, defence and trade. British Indian Ocean Territory 5. There is no native or permanent population; therefore there is no elected government. 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