The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda. The Senate and the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, together form the bicameral legislature of Antigua and Barbuda. The Senate and the House together may make laws for "the peace, order and good government of Antigua and Barbuda".[1] Any bill other than a money bill may be introduced in the Senate.[1]
Senate | |
|---|---|
| 16th legislature | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| Leadership | |
Alincia Williams-Grant since 25 June 2014 | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 17 |
 | |
Political groups | Government Senators
Opposition Senators Independent Senators
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| Appointment by the Governor-General | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Website | |
| ab | |
The composition and powers of the Senate are established under sections 28 to 35 of the Constitution. The Senate is composed of seventeen members appointed by the Governor-General.[2] Ten members are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, four on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, one on the advice of the Barbuda Council, one resident of Barbuda on the advice of the Prime Minister, and one at the Governor-General's discretion.
The current[update] President of the Senate is Senator the Hon. Alincia Williams-Grant, with Senator the Hon. Osbert Richard Frederick serving as Deputy President.[3]
Membership
editEligibility
editSubject to the provisions of Section 30 of the Constitution, any person who at the time of his appointment: is a citizen; is twenty-one years of age or older; has lived in Antigua and Barbuda for the twelve months immediately prior to the date of his appointment; and is able to speak and, unless disabled by blindness or another physical condition, to read the English language with enough proficiency to allow him to take an active part in the proceedings.[1]
Ineligibility
editEvery Senator must resign from the Senate in the following situations: at the next dissolution of Parliament after being appointed; if he is nominated with his consent to run for the House of Representatives; if he loses citizenship; if he is absent from Senate proceedings for the period or periods and under the conditions specified by the Senate's rules of procedure; if any circumstances arise that, if he were not a Senator, would make him ineligible for appointment as such under subsection (1) of section 30 of the Constitution or under any law passed in accordance with subsection (2) of that section, subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of section 31; if the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister in the case of a Senator appointed pursuant to that advice, the Leader of the Opposition in the case of a Senator appointed pursuant to that advice, the Barbuda Council in the case of a Senator appointed pursuant to that advice, or in his discretion in the case of a Senator appointed by him in his discretion; or if after being appointed in accordance with section 28(6) of the Constitution, he no longer resides in Barbuda.[1]
Temporary senators
editThe Governor-General may appoint a person qualified for appointment as a Senator to be temporarily a member of the Senate during such absence, suspension, or illness whenever a Senator is unable to perform his or her duties as a Senator due to absence from Antigua and Barbuda, suspension under section 31(2) of the Constitution, or due to illness. The provisions of Section 31 of the Constitution shall apply to a Senator appointed under this Section in the same manner as they do to a Senator appointed under Section 28 of the Constitution, and an appointment made under this Section shall in any event cease to have effect if the person appointed is notified by the Governor-General that the circumstances giving rise to his appointment have ceased to exist.[1]
Senators
editThe Senate was last appointed on 23 January 2023.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order (PDF). 1981.
- ^ "Official Website for the Government of Antigua and Barbuda". Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
- ^ "Members of the Senate 2018 - present". Government of Antigua and Barbuda. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "Government of Antigua and Barbuda". ab.gov.ag. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
This article incorporates public domain material from documents of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.