Senate of Barbados
Senate of Barbados | ||
---|---|---|
President of the Senate | ||
Deputy President | H. Elizabeth Thompson, BLP since 4 February 2022 | |
Leader of Government Business | Lisa Cummins, BLP | |
Structure | ||
Seats | 21 | |
Political groups | Government
| |
Elections | ||
Appointed by the president of the republic | ||
Meeting place | ||
Senate of Barbados chamber Bridgetown, St. Michael, Barbados | ||
Website | ||
The Senate |
The Senate of Barbados is the
Senators are now appointed by the President of Barbados. According to the Constitution of Barbados, 7 are chosen at the President's sole discretion, 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister and 2 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.[2] In the absence of an opposition leader, the president appoints 2 extra senators bringing the total amount of independents to 9.[3] The Senate sits for 20 to 25 days a year. The term of the Senate, and the House of Assembly, is five years;[4] both chambers are dissolved before each election.
Composition
All
Potential Senators must meet certain criteria before they can be nominated to the upper chamber. In order to be eligible for appointment, a person must be a Barbadian citizen of at least 21 years of age who has resided in the country for the past twelve months. A person is ineligible for appointment if they are in bankruptcy, have a mental illness, hold an allegiance to a foreign state, have a capital punishment sentence, have been in prison for a time exceeding six months, or have been convicted of a crime involving electoral fraud, treason, or other dishonourable acts. Furthermore, a Senator cannot also serve as a civil servant, a member of the armed forces or police, a judge, a public prosecutor, a controller, or a current sitting member of the House of Assembly.[5] Senators serve for five years.
Powers
Both the Senate and the House of Assembly constitutionally share most of the same powers, however, much as in other
Officers
When a session begins, the senate elects a president and a vice president, who may not be ministers or parliamentary secretaries. The president of the senate usually votes only to break a tie. The president of the senate serves as acting president if the president of Barbados is suspended from office due to pending impeachment proceedings.
See also
- Politics of Barbados
- Cabinet of Barbados
- List of presidents of the Legislative Council of Barbados (1813–1963)
- List of presidents of the Senate of Barbados (1964–present)
- List of Barbadian senators
Notes
- ^ Constitution, Chapter V, Part 1; Section 35
- ^ "The Senate". The Parliament. Parliament of Barbados. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ "New Senators vow to be 'independent'". nationnews.com. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ "The House of Assembly". The Parliament. Parliament of Barbados. Archived from the original on 9 January 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ Constitution: Section 38, 1a.
References
- About parliament – Senate, Inter-Parliamentary Union