Politics of the Bahamas
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Politics of The Bahamas |
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Political developments
In the first half of the 20th century, the Bahamas was largely controlled by a group of influential white merchants known as the "Bay Street Boys",
The Progressive Liberal Party was formed in 1953 to represent the disenfranchised black majority and this led to the formation of the
A coalition of PLP dissidents and former UBP members formed the Free National Movement (FNM) in 1971 under the leadership of Cecil Wallace Whitfield. After Whitfield's death in 1990, another ex-PLP,
Due to the inefficiency of the Ingraham government, Christie's PLP regained the government in a massive landslide in 2012. The Christie government was once more libel to charges of massive corruption, and in 2017, there was an even bigger swing back to the FNM, leaving the PLP with a mere four seats in the parliament. general election|in 2002]], when the PLP returned to power under Perry Christie.[2] Ingraham returned to power from 2007 to 2012, followed by Christie again from 2012 to 2017. With economic growth faltering, Bahamians re-elected the FNM in 2017, with Hubert Minnis becoming the fourth prime minister.[3]
In September 2021, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis lost in a snap
Executive branch
The Bahamas is a constitutional monarchy based on the Westminster system of parliamentary government. King Charles III is the head of state as King of The Bahamas. He is viceregally represented by the Governor-General of the Bahamas who acts on the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet.
The leader of the majority party in parliament serves as prime minister and head of government. The cabinet consists of at least nine members, including the prime minister and ministers of executive departments. They answer politically to the lower House of Assembly.
The governor-general appoints the chief justice of the Supreme Court on the advice of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. Other justices are appointed on the advice of a judicial commission. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London serves as the highest appellate court for the Bahamas.
Legislative branch
The House of Assembly consists of 38 members, elected from individual constituencies for five-year terms. As under the Westminster system, the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time. The House of Assembly performs all major legislative functions.
The Senate consists of 16 members appointed by the governor-general, including nine on the advice of the prime minister, four on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and three on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition.
Political parties and elections
Movements
International organization participation
- ACP
- World Customs Organization
- Caribbean Development Bank
- Caribbean Community (Caricom)
- Commonwealth Games Federation
- Commonwealth of Nations
- United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
- Food and Agriculture Organization
- Group of 77
- IADB
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- ICAO
- ICFTU
- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
- International Finance Corporation
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- International Labour Organization
- International Monetary Fund
- International Maritime Organization
- International Olympic Committee
- International Telecommunication Union
- Inmarsat
- Intelsat
- Interpol
- Latin American Economic System
- Non-Aligned Movement
- Organization of American States
- OPANAL
- Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
- UNESCO
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization
- United Nations
- Universal Postal Union
- World Health Organization
- World Intellectual Property Organization
- World Meteorological Organization
- World Trade Organization (applicant)
See also
References
- ^ "The Bahamas: Bad News for the Boys". Time. Time magazine. 20 January 1967. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "New Bahamas Cabinet | Bahamas Financial Services Board". bfsb-bahamas.com.
- ^ "Encyclopedia Britannica – The Bahamas". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^ "Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. 17 September 2021.
- ^ "Bahamas Election 2021: PLP election victory confirmed | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. 20 September 2021.
- ^ McLeod, Sheri-Kae (17 September 2021). "Phillip Davis Sworn in as Prime Minister of Bahamas". Caribbean News.