The Bahamas · Government
Government and administration in The Bahamas
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state — The King, represented by the Governor-General
- Acts on ministerial advice.
- Executive — Cabinet led by the Prime Minister
- Responsible to the House of Assembly.
- Legislative — Parliament
- House of Assembly (39 elected) and Senate (16 appointed).
- Judicial — Court of Appeal and Supreme Court
- Judicial and Legal Service Commission advises on appointments.
How legislation is made
Bills pass three readings in the House of Assembly and Senate before the Governor-General assents. Entrenched constitutional provisions, including those on citizenship and the composition of Parliament, require both a three-quarters parliamentary majority and approval by referendum, which is why constitutional change has repeatedly failed.
Enforcement institutions
- Royal Bahamas Police Force
- National police service headed by a Commissioner.
- Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs
- Directs public prosecutions through the DPP.
- Financial Intelligence Unit
- Receives suspicious transaction reports under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act.
- Securities Commission of The Bahamas
- Regulates investment funds, securities and digital assets under the DARE Act.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveOffice of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal AffairsPrincipal legal adviser to the government and head of prosecutions.
- executiveRegistrar General's DepartmentRegisters civil status, companies, land and intellectual property.
- independentSecurities Commission of The BahamasRegulates securities, investment funds and digital assets.
- independentFinancial Intelligence UnitReceives and analyses suspicious transaction reports.
- executiveRoyal Bahamas Police ForceNational police service for the archipelago.
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