THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS

ARRANGEMENT OF ARTICLES

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMISSION 2002

chapter I
The constitution
Article
1.    The State
2.    The Constitution is Supreme law
 
Chapter II
citizenship
3.    Persons who become citizens on 10th July 1973
4.    Persons who become citizens on 9th July 1974
5.    Persons entitled to be registered as citizens
6.    Persons born in The Bahamas After 9th July 1973
7.    Persons born in The Bahamas After 9th July 1973 of Non-citizen parents.
8.    Persons born outside The Bahamas After 9th July 1973
9.    Further provisions for Persons born outside The Bahamas After 9th July 1973
10.   Marriage to citizens of The Bahamas.
11.    Deprivation of Citizenship.
12.    Renunciation of Citizenship.
13.    Power of Parliament.
14.    Interpretation.
 
Chapter III
Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
15.    Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
16.    Protection of Right to Life.
17.    Protection from inhumane treatment.
18.    Protection from slavery and forced labour.
19.    Protection from Arbitrary arrest and detention.
20.    Provisions to secure protection of law.
21.    Protection for privacy of home and other property.
22.    Protection of Freedom of Conscience.
23.    Protection of Freedom of Expression.
24.    protection of freedom of assembly and association.
25.    protection of freedom of movement.
26.    protection from discrimination on grounds of race, etc.
27.    Protection from deprivation of property.
28.    enforcement of fundamental rights.
29.    provisions for time of war or emergency.
30.    saving of existing law.
31.    interpretation.
 
Chapter IV
The governor-general
32.    establishment of office of governor-general.
33.    acting governor-general.
34.    deputy governor-general.
35.    personal staff of governor-general.
36.    public seal.
37.    oaths to be taken by governor-general.
 
Chapter V
Parliament
Part I
Composition of Parliament.
38.    Establishment of Parliament.
 
Part II
The Senate.
39.    Composition of Senate.
40.    Purpose of appointment of certain senators.
41.    Qualifications for appointment as senator.
42.    disqualifications for appointment as senator.
43.    Tenure of office of Senators.
44.    president and Vice-President.
45.    Determination of Questions as to membership.
 
Part III
House of Assembly
 
46.    Composition of House of Assembly.
47.    Qualification for Membership of House of Assembly.
48.    Disqualification for Election as members of House of Assembly.
49.    Tenure of office of members of House of Assembly.
50.    Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
51.    Determination of Questions as to membership.
 
Part IV
Powers and Procedure of Parliament.
 
52.    POWER TO MAKE LAWS.
53.     PRIVILEGES OF PARLIAMENT.
54.    ALTERATION OF THIS CONSTITUTION.
55.    REGULATION OF PROCEDURE IN PARLIAMENT.
56.     PRESIDING IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
57.    QUORUM.
58.    VOTING.
59.    INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. ETC.
60.    RESTRICTION ON POWERS OF SENATE AS TO MONEY BILLS.
61.    RESTRICTION ON POWERS OF SENATE AS TO BILLS OTHER THAN MONEY BILLS.
62.    PROVISIONS RELATING TO ARTICLES 59, 60 AND 61.
63.    ASSENT TO BILLS.
64.    OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
 
PART V.
Summoning, Prorogation and Dissolution.
65.    SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT.
66.    PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.
67.    GENERAL ELECTIONS, BYE-ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENT OF SENATORS.
 
PART VI.
Delimitation of Constituencies
68.    CONSTITUENCIES.
69.    CONSTITUENCIES COMMISSION.
70.    PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW OF CONSTITUENCIES.
 
CHAPTER V.
THE EXECUTIVE.
71.    EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.
72.    THE CABINET.
73.    APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS.
74.    TENURE OF OFFICE OF MINISTERS.
75.    PERFORMANCE OF FUNCTIONS OF PRIME MINISTER DURING ABSENCE, ILLNESS OR SUSPENSION.
76.    TEMPORARY MINISTERS.
77.    ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIOS TO MINISTERS.
78.    FUNCTIONS OF ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
79.   EXERCISE OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S POWERS.
80.    GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO BE INFORMED CONCERNING MATTERS OF GOVERNMENT.
81.    PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES.
82.    LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.
83.    CERTAIN VACANCIES IN OFFICE OF LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.
84.    OATHS TO BE TAKEN BY MINISTERS, ETC.
85.    LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR MINISTERS, ETC.
86.    SUMMONING OF AND PRESIDING IN CABINET.
87.   QUORUM.
88.   PERMANENT SECRETARIES.
89.   CONSTITUTION OF OFFICES, ETC.
90.   POWERS OF PARDON, ETC.
91.   ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PREROGATIVE OF MERCY.
92.   FUNCTIONS OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
CHAPTER VI.
THE JUDICATURE.
PART I.
The Supreme Court.
93.    ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPREME COURT.
94.    APPOINTMENT OF JUSTICES OF SUPREME COURT.
95.    ACTING JUSTICES.
96.    TENURE OF OFFICE OF JUSTICES OF SUPREME COURT.
97.    OATHS TO BE TAKEN BY JUSTICES OF SUPREME COURT.
PART II.
Court of Appeal.
98.    ESTABLISHMENT OF COURT OF APPEAL.
99.    JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL.
100.  OTHER ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPEALS.
101.  ACTING JUSTICES OF COURT OF APPEAL.
102.  TENURE OF OFFICE OF JUSTICES OF APPEAL.
103.  OATHS TO BE TAKEN BY JUSTICES OF APPEAL.
 
PART III.
Appeals to Court of Appeal and Her Majesty in Council.
104.    APPEALS RELATING TO FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS.
105.    APPEALS TO HER MAJESTY IN COUNCIL IN OTHER CASES.
106.    INTERPRETATION OF "COURT OF APPEAL".
 
CHAPTER VIII.
THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
PART I.
The Public Service Commission.
107.     ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
 
PART II.
Appointments etc. of Public Officers
108.    APPOINTMENTS, ETC. OF PUBLIC OFFICERS.
109.    APPOINTMENTS OF PERMANENT SECRETARIES AND CERTAIN OTHER PUBLIC OFFICERS.
110.    DELEGATION OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S POWERS.
111.    APPOINTMENTS, ETC. OF PRINCIPAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BAHAMAS ABROAD.
112.    APPOINTMENTS ON TRANSFER IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.
113.    APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY TO THE CABINET.
PART III
The Public Service Board of Appeal.
114.    PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD OF APPEAL.
115.    APPEALS IN DISCIPLINE CASES.
PART IV.
The Judicial and Legal Service Commission
116.    ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF THE JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SERVICE COMMISSION.
117.    APPOINTMENTS, ETC. OF JUDICIAL AND LEGAL OFFICERS.
PART V.
The Police Service Commission.
118.     ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF THE POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION.
119.     APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE POLICE FORCE.
120.     REMOVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.
121.     REMOVAL AND DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS OF THE FORCE.
PART VI.
Pensions.
122.    PROTECTION OF PENSION RIGHTS.
123.    GRANT AND WITHHOLDING OF PENSIONS, ETC.
124.    APPEALS IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN DECISIONS AFFECTING PENSIONS BENEFITS.
PART VII.
Miscellaneous.
125.    PROCEDURE OF COMMISSIONS.
126.    REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OF CERTAIN PERSONS.
127.    PUBLIC SERVICE.
CHAPTER IX.
FINANCE
128.    CONSOLIDATED FUND.
129.    ESTIMATES.
130.    AUTHORITY FOR PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.
131.    WITHDRAWAL OF MONEY FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FUND.
132.    WITHDRAWAL OF MONEY IN ADVANCE OF APPROPRIATION ACT.
133.    CONTINGENCIES FUND.
134.    PUBLIC DEBT.
135.    REMUNERATION OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND CERTAIN OTHER OFFICERS.
136.    ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE AND FUNCTIONS OF AUDITOR-GENERAL.
 
CHAPTER X.
INTERPRETATION
137. INTERPRETATION. 

BACK TO LEGISLATION A-D

                                                            Send mail to lexbahamas@netscape.net with questions or comments about this web site.
                                                             Copyright © 2001-2002 Lex Bahamas Legal Resource Centre
                                                             Last modified: March 23, 2003