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

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

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 1 10 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

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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