Bahamas government structure and political parties. – CountryReports

Executive Branch:Chief of State: King CHARLES Philip Arthur George III (Since 8 September 2022), previous Queen ELIZABETH II (6 February 1952 - 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Cornelius A. SMITH (since 28 June 2019)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS (since 11 May 2017)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on the recommendation of prime minister

Elections/Appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Note: Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS is only the fourth prime minister in Bahamian history following its independence from the UK; he is also the first prime minister in 25 years besides Perry CHRISTIE and Hubert INGRAHAM, who repeatedly traded the premiership from 1992 to 2017

Citizenship by Descent Only: at least one parent must be a citizen of The Bahamas

Dual Citizenship Recognized: no

Residency Requirement for Naturalization: 6-9 years

Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve 5-year terms)

House of Assembly (39 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by a simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

Elections:

Senate - last appointments on 24 May 2017 (next appointments in 2022)

House of Assembly - last held on 10 May 2017 (next to be held by May 2022)

Election Results:

Senate - appointed; composition - men 9, women 7, percent of women 43.8%

House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - FNM 57%, PLP 36.9%, other 6.1%; seats by party - FNM 35, PLP 4; composition - men 34, women 5, percent of women 12.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women 21.8%

Note: the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time

Note: as of 2008, the Bahamas was not a party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as the highest appellate court for the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas

Judge Selection and Term of Office: Court of Appeal president and Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition party; other Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body headed by the chief justice; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 68 but can be extended until age 70; Supreme Court justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65 but can be extended until age 67

Subordinate Courts: Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators

Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS]

Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Philip "Brave" DAVIS]

Chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660

FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668

Consulate(s) General: Atlanta, Miami, New York

Embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence

Mailing Address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370

Telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)

FAX: [1] (242) 356-7174

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Bahamas government structure and political parties. - CountryReports