Government:Constitutional Parliamentary Democracy and a Commonwealth Realm
Executive Branch:
Chief of StateQueen Elizabeth II (since February 6, 1952). Represented by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling (since July 8, 2014)
Head of Government:Prime Minister Perry Christie (since May 8, 2012)
Cabinet:Appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister
Elections/Appointments:The monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; the leader of the majority is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative Branch:
Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats -- members serve 5-year terms)
House of Assembly (38 seats -- members serve 5-year terms)
The government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time
Judicial Branch:
The Bahamas Court of Appeal -- consists of the court president and 4 justices, organized in 3-member panels
Supreme Court -- consists of the chief justice and 9 justices
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
Justices are appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition party
Suffrage at 18 years of age; universal
US Embassy in The Bahamas -- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Lisa A. Johnson located at 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence. No consulates listed.
Bahamian Embassy in the US -- Ambassador Dr. Eugene Glenwood Newry located at 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008. Consulates in Atlanta, Miami, New York.
Mr. Elliston Rahming is the Bahamian Representative for the United Nations
Independent on July 10, 1973 (from the UK)
Holidays: Independence Day on July 10
International Disputes:Disagrees with the US on the alignment of the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary
Illicit Drug Trafficking/Use:Transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center
No data for Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, Stateless Persons, or Human Trafficking
The band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands surrounded by the blue sea; black represents the vigor and force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the rich resources of land and sea.
The blue marlin is a national symbol.
The flamingo is a national symbol.
Yellow Elder flowers are a national symbol in The Bahamas.