Malta I Belong Test flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Maltese archipelago size

The Maltese islands cover about 316 km² and consist of Malta, Gozo, Comino, Cominotto and Filfla, located in the central Mediterranean south of Sicily.

Number of local councils

Malta has 68 local councils, 54 on the island of Malta and 14 on Gozo, each with an elected mayor and councillors serving five-year terms.

Maltese capital city

Valletta is the capital of Malta and the smallest EU capital by area, built after the Great Siege and named after Grand Master Jean de Valette.

Highest point in Malta

Ta' Dmejrek on the Dingli Cliffs reaches 253 metres, the highest point of the Maltese islands; Malta has no rivers or natural lakes.

Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

A UNESCO-listed subterranean prehistoric burial complex in Paola, dating from about 4000 to 2500 BCE and famous for the 'Sleeping Lady' figurine.

Great Siege of 1565

The Ottoman siege of Malta, resisted by the Knights of St John and Maltese forces, leading to the founding of Valletta in 1566.

George Cross award

In 1942 Malta received the George Cross for civilian bravery under bombardment; the cross appears on the national flag.

Maltese independence date

Malta became independent from Britain on 21 September 1964, became a republic on 13 December 1974, and joined the EU on 1 May 2004.

Maltese President's role

The President is head of state, elected by the House of Representatives for five years, with largely ceremonial functions and power to appoint the Prime Minister.

Maltese Parliament composition

The unicameral House of Representatives normally has 65 members elected by Single Transferable Vote from 13 districts, with mechanisms adjusting seats for majority and gender balance.

Maltese Constitution

Entered into force on 21 September 1964 and amended in 1974, it establishes Malta as a democratic republic and protects fundamental rights in Chapter IV.

Local government in Malta

Local councils are constitutionally recognised, deliver local services, and are overseen by the Local Government Division within the responsible ministry.

Maltese fundamental rights

Chapter IV of the Constitution protects life, liberty, fair trial, privacy, expression, assembly, association and property, enforceable in the Constitutional Court.

Compulsory voting in Malta

Registered voters must vote in general and local elections; failing to vote without a valid reason can result in a fine.

Maltese citizenship routes

Citizenship can be acquired by descent, birth in Malta under conditions, adoption, naturalisation or registration; Malta permits dual citizenship.

Equality Act 2014

Maltese law prohibiting discrimination on grounds including sex, race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and services.

Maltese national flag

A vertical white-and-red bicolour with the George Cross in the upper hoist canton, reflecting the 1942 award and adopted at independence in 1964.

L-Innu Malti

Malta's national anthem, composed by Robert Samut with lyrics by Dun Karm Psaila, officially adopted in 1964.

Maltese language

Il-Malti is a Semitic language written in Latin script, with heavy Romance influence, and is an official EU language alongside English.

Maltese festa tradition

Village feasts honouring patron saints, featuring processions, band marches and fireworks, are central to Maltese religious and community culture.

Mater Dei Hospital

Malta's main public acute hospital, located in Msida, providing free care to residents holding a valid Maltese identity card.

Compulsory education age

Education is compulsory in Malta from age 5 to 16; state schools are free and instruction uses both Maltese and English.

Maltese minimum wage

A statutory national minimum wage set annually after review by the Low Wage Commission under the Employment and Industrial Relations Act.

Tallinja card

A public transport card used on Malta Public Transport buses, offering reduced fares for residents and free travel for certain groups.

Malta's EU accession

Malta joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, adopted the euro on 1 January 2008, and has held the EU Council Presidency in 2017.

Malta's neutrality

Article 1 of the Constitution enshrines Malta's neutrality; Malta is not a member of NATO and does not host foreign military bases.

Malta in Schengen

Malta fully joined the Schengen area in December 2007, removing internal border checks while maintaining external border controls.

Malta's European Parliament seats

Malta elects six Members of the European Parliament and holds one seat in the European Commission, reflecting its small population.

Gozo Region

Gozo and Comino form a distinct statistical region with its own local councils, separate from the five regions on mainland Malta.

UNESCO megalithic temples

Six Maltese megalithic temple sites, including Ġgantija and Mnajdra, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites dating from about 3600 to 2500 BCE.

Maltese Ombudsman

An independent officer who investigates complaints against public authorities, complementing the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life.

Malta's national bird and flower

The blue rock thrush (merill) is the national bird and the Maltese centaury (widnet il-baħar) is the national flower of Malta.