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Parliament name Parliament More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate Affiliation to the IPU No Affiliation date(s) LEADERSHIP President Alvin Smith (M)  Secretary General Maurice Tynes (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 38 / 38 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 5 (13.16%) Mode of designation directly elected 38 Term 5 years Last renewal dates 7 May 2012 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address House of Assembly P.O. Box N 3003 NASSAU (Export mailing lists) Phone (1242) 322 2041 Fax (1242) 322 1118 E-mail houseofassembly@bahamas.gov.bs Website http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/

Parliament name Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 31 December 1969 Last amendment: 10/01/1992 Mode of designation directly elected 38 Constituencies 38 single-member constituencies. Voting system Majority: Simple majority vote (single-member plurality system, first past the post) Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Bahamas citizenship - 3 months minimum residence in constituency - disqualifications: insanity, imprisonment, sentence of death CANDIDATES Eligibility - age: 21 years - Bahamas citizenship - one year minimum residence in country immediately before nomination - ineligibility: undischarged bankruptcy, insanity, allegiance to a foreign State, electoral fraud, criminal conviction, sentence of death or imprisonment Incompatibilities - judges - public officers (for more than three months) - armed forces of the Crown - employment on personal staff of Governor-General or in the Ministry of Tourism Candidacy requirements - nomination by four electors - payment of 400 B$, reimbursed if the candidate obtains 1/6 or more of constituency votes

Parliament name Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 7 May 2012 Timing and scope of renewal The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), led by former Prime Minister Perry Christie, won a resounding victory, taking 29 of the 38 seats at stake (see note). It criticized the Free National Movement (FNM) government, led by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, for not having done enough to stimulate the Bahamian economy, which was yet to recover from the global economic crisis. The FNM fell from 23 to only nine seats in parliament. Mr. Ingraham, who himself was re-elected, announced that he would retire from front-line politics. On 8 May, Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes swore in Mr. Christie for his second term in office, five years after his first premiership between 2002 and 2007. Note: Following the recommendation of the Boundary Commission in November 2011, the statutory number of members was reduced from 41 to 38 starting from the 2012 elections. Date of previous elections: 2 May 2007 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 10 April 2012 Timing of election: Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: May 2017 Number of seats at stake: 38 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 133 (111 men, 22 women) Percentage of women candidates: 16.5% Number of parties contesting the election: 4 Number of parties winning seats: 2 Alternation of power: Yes Number of parties in government: 1 Names of parties in government: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 7 May 2012 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 172'130 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) 38 Free National Movement (FNM) 38 Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) 29 Free National Movement (FNM) 9 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 33 5 13.16% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Sources: House of Assembly (11.05.2012) http://www.bahamaselections.com/

Parliament name Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the House of Assembly Term - duration: 5 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution, appointment to either the Cabinet or the Senate Appointment - elected by all the Members of the House of Assembly - election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected House of Assembly - after the Members are sworn in Eligibility - any Member of the Assembly can be a candidate - candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Member of the Assembly - candidatures must be seconded by another Member Voting system - if only one candidature is submitted : the candidate is elected without a vote or debate - if several candidatures are submitted : a secret ballot is taken for each candidates in the order of their registration until one of them is elected. Procedures / results NA (no information received) STATUS Status - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities NA (no information received) FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions, in exceptional cases only - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of questions and petitions Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings, within the framework of the Standing Orders - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the House of Assembly - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives (the Member who catches the speaker's eye would have the floor) and withdraws permission to speak - calls for a vote, verifies the voting procedure and declares the results - checks the quorum - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House of Assembly Special powers - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the House of Assembly Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes part in voting, only in the case of a tied vote

This page was last updated on 16 May 2012
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