Barbados is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, recognising HM Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. She is represented by a Governor-General, Sir Clifford Husbands. The country has a parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislature and party system, based on universal adult suffrage. The Senate has 21 members appointed by the Governor-General, 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, two on that of the Leader of the Opposition, and the remaining seven at the Governor-General?s discretion. The House of Assembly has 28 elected members, increased from 27 in 1991. Leaders of each house (President and Deputy President of the Senate and Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly) are elected by the members of the respective houses.
The Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister (who must be an elected MP) and other ministers appointed from either house by the Governor-General as advised by the Prime Minister. The Governor-General appoints the Leader of the Opposition ? the MP who, in his/her judgement, leads the party commanding the support of the largest number of MPs in opposition to the government. The normal life of Parliament is five years.
The Constitution may be amended by Act of Parliament passed by both houses, except for entrenched clauses which require two-thirds majorities in both houses. These clauses relate to: citizenship, rights and freedoms, the Governor-Generalship, composition of Parliament and its sessions, prorogation and dissolution, general elections, senatorial appointments, the Executive Authority of Barbados, the judicature, civil service and finance.
A ten person constitutional commission, set up in 1995 to review allocations of power and, in particular, the role of the Monarch as Head of State, is to publish its recommendation in October 1997.
