Dominica · Government
Government and administration in Dominica
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state — President
- Elected by the House of Assembly for five years; largely ceremonial.
- Executive — Cabinet led by the Prime Minister
- Responsible to the House of Assembly.
- Legislative — House of Assembly
- Unicameral: 21 elected representatives and nine senators.
- Judicial — Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
- Shared regional court; final appeal to the CCJ.
How legislation is made
Bills pass three readings in the unicameral House of Assembly and receive presidential assent. Entrenched provisions, including those on fundamental rights and the office of President, require a three-quarters majority of all elected members and in some cases a referendum.
Enforcement institutions
- Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force
- National police service, including immigration and fire divisions.
- Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Independent prosecution authority.
- Financial Services Unit
- Regulates offshore banking, insurance and money services.
- Integrity in Public Office Commission
- Receives declarations from public officials.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveMinistry of Justice, Immigration and National SecurityJustice policy, immigration and national security.
- independentOffice of the Director of Public ProsecutionsIndependent authority for criminal prosecutions.
- independentFinancial Services UnitRegulates offshore and domestic financial services.
- executiveCitizenship by Investment UnitAdministers the citizenship-by-investment programme.
- localKalinago CouncilAdministers the Kalinago Territory.
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