Executive Branch:Chief of State: King CHARLES Philip Arthur George III (Since 8 September 2022), previous Queen ELIZABETH II (6 February 1952 - 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Cornelius A. SMITH (since 28 June 2019)<\/p>\n
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS (since 11 May 2017)<\/p>\n
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on the recommendation of prime minister<\/p>\n
Elections\/Appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister<\/p>\n
Note: Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS is only the fourth prime minister in Bahamian history following its independence from the UK; he is also the first prime minister in 25 years besides Perry CHRISTIE and Hubert INGRAHAM, who repeatedly traded the premiership from 1992 to 2017<\/p>\n
Citizenship by Descent Only: at least one parent must be a citizen of The Bahamas<\/p>\n
Dual Citizenship Recognized: no<\/p>\n
Residency Requirement for Naturalization: 6-9 years<\/p>\n
Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve 5-year terms)<\/p>\n
House of Assembly (39 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by a simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)<\/p>\n
Elections:<\/p>\n
Senate - last appointments on 24 May 2017 (next appointments in 2022)<\/p>\n
House of Assembly - last held on 10 May 2017 (next to be held by May 2022)<\/p>\n
Election Results:<\/p>\n
Senate - appointed; composition - men 9, women 7, percent of women 43.8%<\/p>\n
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - FNM 57%, PLP 36.9%, other 6.1%; seats by party - FNM 35, PLP 4; composition - men 34, women 5, percent of women 12.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women 21.8%<\/p>\n
Note: the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time<\/p>\n
Note: as of 2008, the Bahamas was not a party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as the highest appellate court for the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas<\/p>\n
Judge Selection and Term of Office: Court of Appeal president and Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition party; other Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body headed by the chief justice; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 68 but can be extended until age 70; Supreme Court justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65 but can be extended until age 67<\/p>\n
Subordinate Courts: Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators<\/p>\n
Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS]<\/p>\n
Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Philip \"Brave\" DAVIS]<\/p>\n
Chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008<\/p>\n
Telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660<\/p>\n
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668<\/p>\n
Consulate(s) General: Atlanta, Miami, New York<\/p>\n
Embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence<\/p>\n
Mailing Address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370<\/p>\n
Telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)<\/p>\n
FAX: [1] (242) 356-7174<\/p>\n
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Read more:<\/p>\n
Bahamas government structure and political parties. - CountryReports<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Executive Branch:Chief of State: King CHARLES Philip Arthur George III (Since 8 September 2022), previous Queen ELIZABETH II (6 February 1952 - 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Cornelius A. Continue reading