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BAHAMAS
House of Assembly

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

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 Halson Moultrie (M) 
Notes Elected on 24 May 2017.
Secretary General Maurice Tynes (M) 
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 39 / 39
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 5 (12.82%)
Mode of designation directly elected 39
Term 5 years
Last renewal dates 10 May 2017
(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
hoa@bahamas.gov.bs
Website
http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

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 39
Constituencies 39 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

LAST ELECTIONS

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) 10 May 2017
Timing and scope of renewal The Free National Movement (FNM), led by Mr. Hubert Minnis, ousted Prime Minister Perry Christie's Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) winning 35 seats to 4 in the 39-member House of Assembly (see note 1). The outgoing Prime Minister himself lost the seat he had held since 1977. On 11 May, Mr. Minnis was sworn in as new Prime Minister by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling.

During the election campaigning, the FNM campaigned on a platform for change, promising to promote "Bahamian ownership in the economy". The PLP's campaign was reportedly overshadowed by corruption scandals and the delayed opening of a $4.2bn mega-resort called Baha Mar, owned by a foreign company (see note 2). The agreement signed between the PLP Government and the buyer of the Baha Mar in April stipulates further financial contribution of the Government, write off of debt as well as the issuing of work permits for foreign workers.

Note 1:
The number of seats in the House of Assembly has increased from 38 to 39 following the decision of the Boundaries Commission in December 2016.

Note 2:
Baha Mar resort was initially scheduled to open in December 2014 but the opening was postponed three times due mainly to bankruptcy filings, delayed construction and a change in ownership. It was finally opened in April 2017.
Date of previous elections: 7 May 2012

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 11 April 2017

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: April 2022

Number of seats at stake: 39 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: About 140

Percentage of women candidates: Not available.

Number of parties contesting the election: 6

Number of parties winning seats: 2

Alternation of power: Yes

Number of parties in government: 1

Names of parties in government: Free National Movement (FNM)

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 24 May 2017

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Halson Moultrie (Free National Movement, FNM)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 110 May 2017
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
181'543
160'409 (88.36%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Free National Movement (FNM)
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
Free National Movement (FNM) 35
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) 4
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
34

5

12.82%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Sources:
https://www.elections.gov.bs/archives/category/election-results
Parliamentary Registration Department, Results of the 2017 General Elections, Polling Division Data (https://www.elections.gov.bs/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-General-Elections-Results.pdf)
https://www.elections.gov.bs/archives/26770
https://www.bahamas.gov.bs
http://www.aljazeera.com/
http://bahamaspress.com/
https://www.bahamaslocal.com/
http://www.bahamasnational.com
http://m.tribune242.com

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

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 3 August 2017
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