Government, made simple.
One island, two systems of government. Sint Maarten in the south is a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Saint-Martin in the north is a French overseas collectivity. Each has its own institutions and public services.
Sint Maarten
Since October 10, 2010, Sint Maarten has been a constituent country of the Kingdom. Parliament represents the people and scrutinizes government, while the Council of Ministers leads public policy through seven ministries.
Saint-Martin
Saint-Martin has been a French overseas collectivity since 2007. Its elected Territorial Council makes local decisions, while the Préfecture represents the French state.