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BARBADOS
Senate

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament of Barbados / Parlement de Barbade
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Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name Senate
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) House of Assembly
Affiliation to the IPU No
Affiliation date(s)
LEADERSHIP
President Sir Richard Cheltenham (M) 
Notes Elected on 5 June 2018.
Secretary General Pedro E. Eastmond (M) 
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 21 / 20
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 8 (40.00%)
Mode of designation appointed 21
Notes Appointed by the Governor General.
Term 5 years
Last renewal dates 5 June 2018
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Senate
Parliament Buildings
BRIDGETOWN
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (1246) 426 5331
426 3717
426 0926
Fax (1246) 436 4143
E-mail parliamentbarbados@caribsurf.com
Website
http://www.barbadosparliament.com/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament of Barbados / Parlement de Barbade
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name Senate
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) House of Assembly
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 1 January 1900
Mode of designation appointed 21
Constituencies (not applicable)
Voting system : Vacancies are filled by appointment made according to how the seat was originally filled.
Voter requirements (not applicable)
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - age: 21 years
- Barbados citizenship
- residence in the country for at least 12 months immediately preceding appointment
- ineligibility: undischarged bankruptcy, insanity, allegiance to a foreign State, death sentence, imprisonment exceeding 6 months, conviction of felony or of an offence involving dishonesty, electoral fraud
Incompatibilities - public officers
- members of armed or police forces
- judges
- director of public prosecutions
- Auditor-General
Candidacy requirements (not applicable)

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament of Barbados / Parlement de Barbade
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name Senate
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) House of Assembly
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 5 June 2018
Timing and scope of renewal Under the Constitution, the Senate is renewed simultaneously with the House.
(not applicable)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Distribution of votes
Distribution of seats
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
12

8

40.00%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Source: Parliament (07.06.2018, 26.06.2018)

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament of Barbados / Parlement de Barbade
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name Senate
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) House of Assembly
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title President of the Senate
Term - duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution
Appointment - elected by all the Senators
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Senate or when a vacancy occurs
- after Senators are sworn in
Eligibility - any Senator (except a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary) can be a candidate
- candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Senator
- candidatures must be seconded by another Senator
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 - the Clerk presides over the Senate during the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
STATUS
Status - in the absence of the President, the Vice-President (or any other Member elected for that sitting) can assume his/her role and functions
Board
Material facilities NA (no information received)
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions, in exceptional case only
- organises the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of questions, petitions, bills and amendments
Chairing of public sittings - can open and close sittings, within the framework of the Standing Orders
- can suspend sittings for short periods
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives (the Member who catches the President's eye would have the floor) and withdraws permission to speak
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules of other regulations governing the life of the Senate
Special powers - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes part in voting, only in the event of tie

This page was last updated on 27 June 2018
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