Politics of Barbados 68936 199890218 2008-03-21T19:24:08Z 69.73.235.207 /* Head of state */ {{Politics of Barbados}} The '''politics of Barbados''' function within a framework of [[constitutional monarchy]] and a [[Parliament of Barbados|parliamentary government]] with strong [[Democracy|democratic]] traditions; constitutional safeguards for nationals of [[Barbados]] include: freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. [[Executive (government)|Executive power]] is vested in the Barbadian monarch, and is exercised by she or her [[Viceroy|vice-regal representative]], on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who all-together forumm the [[government]]. [[Legislature|Legislative power]] is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the [[Parliament of Barbados|Parliament]]. The political system is dominated by two main parties, the [[Barbados Labour Party]] and the [[Democratic Labour Party (Barbados)|Democratic Labour Party]]. The [[Judiciary]] of Barbados is independent of the executive and the legislature. Jurisprudence is based on English common law. Many of the country's legislative practices derive from the unwritten [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|conventions]] of, and precedents set by, the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[Westminster]] parliament; however, Barbados has evolved variations. ==Summary of governmental organization== ; Name: [[Barbados]] ; Type of government : [[Parliamentary democracy]] within a [[constitutional monarchy]]. ; Capital : [[Bridgetown]]. ; Administrative divisions : 11 parishes: [[Christ Church, Barbados|Christ Church]], [[Saint Andrew, Barbados|Saint Andrew]], [[Saint George, Barbados|Saint George]], [[Saint James, Barbados|Saint James]], [[Saint John, Barbados|Saint John]], [[Saint Joseph, Barbados|Saint Joseph]], [[Saint Lucy, Barbados|Saint Lucy]], [[Saint Michael, Barbados|Saint Michael]], [[Saint Peter, Barbados|Saint Peter]], [[Saint Philip, Barbados|Saint Philip]], [[Saint Thomas, Barbados|Saint Thomas]]; and the city of [[Bridgetown]] ; Constitution : [[Westminster system]], based on unwritten [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|conventions]] and written [[Constitution of Canada|legislation]]. ; Legal system : [[English law|English]] [[common law]]; accepts compulsory [[International Court of Justice]] jurisdiction, with reservations. ; Suffrage : Citizens aged 18 years or older; only two adult citizens in Barbados cannot vote; the [[Chief Electoral Officer]], and the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer; the [[Governor-General]] is eligible to vote, but abstains due to [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]]. ; Participation in [[international organization]]s : [[Caribbean Community|CARICOM]], [[Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy|CSME]], [[Caribbean Court of Justice|CCJ]], [[Association of Caribbean States|ACS]], [[International Criminal Court|ICCt]], [[ACP countries|ACP]], [[Commonwealth of Nations]], [[Caribbean Development Bank|CDB]], [[United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean|ECLAC]], [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], [[Group of 77|G-77]], [[IADB]], [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|IBRD]], [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]], [[International Confederation of Free Trade Unions|ICFTU]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|ICRM]], [[International Fund for Agricultural Development|IFAD]], [[International Finance Corporation|IFC]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|IFRCS]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[IMO]], [[Intelsat]], [[Interpol]], [[IOC]], [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]], [[ITU]], [[Latin American Economic System|LAES]], [[Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency|MIGA]], [[NAM]], [[OAS]], [[OPANAL]], [[United Nations|UN]], [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UNCTAD]], [[UNESCO]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[Universal Postal Union|UPU]], [[World Customs Organization|WCO]], [[World Federation of Trade Unions|WFTU]], [[World Health Organization|WHO]], [[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]], [[World Meteorological Organization|WMO]], [[World Trade Organization|WTrO]]. ; Description of [[national flag]] : Three vertical panels - the outer panels of ultramarine and the centre panel of gold. A broken trident in black is the centre of the flag. {{see|Flag of Barbados}} ===Executive power=== ; [[Sovereignty|Sovereign]] and [[Head of state|Head of State]] : [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]], [[Monarchy of Barbados|Queen of Barbados]] (since [[November 30]], [[1966]]). ; [[Viceroy]] : Sir [[Clifford Husbands]], [[List of Governors-General of Barbados|Governor-General of Barbados]] (since [[June 1]], [[1996]]). ; [[Head of government]] : [[List of Prime Ministers of Barbados|Prime Minister]] [[David Thompson (Barbadian politician)|David Thompson]] (since [[16 January]], [[2008]]). ; [[Cabinet]] : [[The Ministry|Ministers]] chosen by the Prime Minister and appointed by the Governor-General to lead various ministries and agencies, generally with regional representation. Traditionally most, if not all, cabinet ministers will be members of the leader's own party who is elected to the lower house or is appointed to the upper house; however this is not legally or constitutionally mandated. ; Elections : The monarchy is hereditary. The Governor-General is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister for a non-specific term. Following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons is usually designated by the Governor-General to become Prime Minister. ==Government of Barbados== ===Head of state=== {{main|Monarchy of Barbados}} [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]], [[Monarchy of Barbados|Queen of Barbados]], is the [[head of state]] and gives repository of [[executive power]]; as expressed in the constitution: "The executive authority of Barbados is vested in Her Majesty." In practice, the sovereign very rarely exercises this power; since the monarch does not normally reside in Barbados, she appoints a [[List of Governors-General of Barbados|governor-general]] to represent her and exercise most of her powers. The person who fills this role is selected on the advice of the Prime Minister; "advice" in this sense is a choice generally without options since it would be highly unconventional for the Prime Minister's advice to be overlooked, a convention that protects the monarchy. As long as the monarch is following the advice of her ministers, she is not held personally responsible for the decisions of the government. The Governor-General has no [[term limit]], the viceroy is said to serve "[[At Her Majesty's Pleasure|at Her Majesty's pleasure]]." Similarly, the Governor-General exercises the executive powers of state on the advice of the [[Minister of the Crown|Crown ministers]]. The term "[[the Crown]]" is usually used to represent the power of the monarch. Government ministers are [[Minister of the Crown|ministers of the Crown]]. Criminal prosecutions are made by [[Crown prosecutor]]s in the name of the monarch. It has been proposed that Barbados become a [[republic]]. The former government led proposal supports maintaining ties to the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], however the proposal would replace the office of Governor-General with a [[president]]. ===Head of government=== The [[List of Prime Ministers of Barbados|Prime Minister]] is the [[head of government]]. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General, but to ensure the continuity of a stable government this person will always be the one who has the confidence of the [[Barbados House of Assembly|House of Assembly]] to lead the government. In practice, the position usually goes to the leader of the political party that has the most seats in the [[lower house]]. On several occasions in Barbadian history, no party has had a majority in the House of Assembly and thus one party, usually the largest, forms a [[minority government]]. The Prime Minister holds office until he resigns or is removed by the Governor-General; therefore, the party that was in government before the election may attempt to continue to govern if they so desire, even if they hold fewer seats than another party. [[Coalition government]]s are rare. [[Political party|Political parties]] are private organizations that are not mentioned in the constitution. By the convention of [[responsible government]], the Prime Minister and most of the Cabinet are [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]] so they can answer to Parliament for their actions. But, constitutionally, any Barbadian adult is eligible for the job, and Prime Ministers have held office after being elected leader but before taking a seat in the Assembly, or after being defeated in their [[constituency|constituencies]]. The Prime Minister selects ministers to head the various government departments and form a cabinet. The [[Cabinet of Barbados|members of the Cabinet]] remain in office at the pleasure of the Governor-General. If the Assembly passes a [[motion of no confidence]] in the government, the Prime Minister and the rest of Cabinet are expected either to resign their offices or to ask for [[Dissolution of parliament|Parliament to be dissolved]] so that a [[general election]] can be held. To avoid a non-confidence motion from passing, parties enforce strong [[party discipline]], in which members of a party - especially from the [[ruling party]] - are strongly urged to vote the "[[party line (politics)|party line]]" or face consequences. While a member of a governing party is free to vote their conscience, they are constrained by the fact that voting against the party line (especially in confidence votes) might lead to expulsion from their party. Such an expulsion would lead to loss of election funding and the former party backing an alternate candidate. While the government likes to keep control in these circumstances, in unwritten practice, the only time the government can fall is if a [[money bill]] (financial or budget) is defeated. However, if a government finds that it can not pass any legislation it is common (but not required) that a vote of confidence should be held. The exception is if the prime minister or the government declared that they consider a given bill to be a matter of confidence (hence how [[backbencher]]s are often held to strict party voting). Members can be elected as [[Independent (politician)|independents]]. Most independent members are elected under a party, but either chose to leave the party or are expelled from it. When there are enough seats for another party to form a government after the resignation of a government, the Governor- General may ask the other party to try to form the government. ===Legislative power=== [[Parliament of Barbados|Barbados' Parliament]] consists of the monarch and a [[bicameral]] [[legislature]]: an elected [[Barbados House of Assembly|House of Assembly]] and an appointed [[Senate of Barbados|Senate]]. In practice, legislative power rests with the party that has the majority of seats in the House of Assembly, which is elected for a period not to exceed five years. ===Political parties and elections=== {{elect|List of political parties in Barbados|Elections in Barbados}} {{update}} {{Barbados legislative election, 2003}} The parishes of Barbados are further divided into one or more constituencies for candidates seeking election to the House of Assembly. As of 1967, there are no longer any Local Government Councils at the parish level, as issues such schools, public works, government health facilities and other institutions are administered at the national level. However, local representatives to the House of Assembly will usually be responsible for local causes and may take up issues with the respective Ministers of the Crown. There are two major and long-standing parties in [[Barbados]]: the [[Barbados Labour Party]] (BLP) and the [[Democratic Labour Party (Barbados)|Democratic Labour Party]] (DLP). Recent times have seen the dissolution of a third party: the [[National Democratic Party (Barbados)|National Democratic Party]] (NDP), and the creation of another: the People's Empowerment Party (PEP). Despite initial historical disparity (the BLP was once conservative and the DLP liberal), their modern incarnations are all moderate and have no major ideological differences. Electoral contests and political disputes often have personal overtones and voter sway tends to be based on tradition. The major political problems facing Barbados today are in promoting economic growth: creating jobs, encouraging agricultural diversification, attracting small industry, and promoting tourism. The ruling BLP was decisively returned to power in January, 1999, elections, winning 26 of the then available 28 seats in the Parliament, with the DLP only winning the remaining two. Prime Minister Owen Arthur also serves as Minister of Finance and the main opposition party, the DLP, is led by David Thompson. ====Political pressure groups==== The main political pressure groups are: * Barbados Workers Union; led by [[Leroy Trotman]] * Clement Payne Labor Union; led by [[David Commissiong]] * People's Progressive Movement; led by [[Eric Sealy]] * Worker's Party of Barbados; led by [[Dr. George Belle]] ==Judiciary== Barbados has an independent judiciary composed of magistrate courts, which are statutorily authorized, and a Supreme Court, which is constitutionally mandated. The Supreme Court consists of the high court and the court of appeal, each with four judges. The Chief Justice serves on both the high court and the court of appeal. The court of last resort is the [[Caribbean Court of Justice]] (CCJ) in [[Port of Spain]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], whose decisions are binding on all parties. Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition. Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service). ==External link and reference== * [http://www.barbados.gov.bb/ Government of Barbados website] * [http://www.caribbeanedu.com/elections/ Barbados Election 2003] * [http://www.barbados.gov.bb/bdsconst.htm The Constitution of Barbados] :* [http://www.barbados.gov.bb/constadmin.htm The Barbados Constitution its Administration] and separation of powers under the Constitution. :* [http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/138236/constitution/ Barbados Constitution] profile - The Commonwealth of Nations * [http://www.totallybarbados.com/barbados/Business/Government_and_Legal_System/ Barbados Government and Legal System] [[Category:Government of Barbados]] [[Category:Westminster system]] [[Category:Politics of Barbados|*]] [[bn:বার্বাডোসের রাজনীতি]] [[es:Gobierno y política de Barbados]] [[fr:Politique de la Barbade]]