Comprised of 36 islands in the Caribbean (16 of which are inhabited); about 80 kilo meters 960 miles) east of Puerto Rico, north of the Leeward Islands, and adjacent to the U.S. Virgin Islands; principal islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke. In 1666 British planters took over control of the island group from the original Dutch settlers. The islands attained the status of British colony, and remained part of the Leeward Islands from 1872 until 1956, when the British Virgin Islands became a separately administered entity. To preserve its close economic ties with the U.S. Virgin Islands, the group did not join the 1958-1962 West Indies Federation of British Virgin Islands. In 1967, a new constitution provided for a ministerial system of government headed by a Chief Minister. The island group remains under British control today. The Governor is the representative of Her Majesty the Queen and responsible for defense and internal security, external affairs, terms and conditions of service of public officers, and the administration of the courts; he possesses reserved legislative powers in these areas. There is an Executive Council, with the Governor as chairman, which includes the Attorney General, (ex-officio) the Chief Minister (appointed by the Governor from those elected to the Legislative Council) and three other ministers appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Legislative Council consists of the four ministers and five other popularly elected representatives, and is presided over by a speaker elected from outside the Council. The judicial system is under the direction of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, which includes the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. Other bodies are the Magistrates' Court, a Juvenile Court, and a Court of Summary Jurisdiction.