3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Conventional short form: The Bahamas

Administrative Divisions

31 districts; Acklins Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Black Point, Cat Island, Central Abaco, Central Andros, Central Eleuthera, City of Freeport, Crooked Island and Long Cay, East Grand Bahama, Exuma, Grand Cay, Harbour Island, Hope Town, Inagua, Long Island, Mangrove Cay, Mayaguana, Moore's Island, North Abaco, North Andros, North Eleuthera, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, South Abaco, South Andros, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, West Grand Bahama

Independence

10 July 1973 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

Constitution

10 July 1973

Legal System

common law system based on the English model

International Law Organization Participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14 April 2010)

Head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 8 May 2011)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation

Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (41 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time elections: last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 9

Judicial Branch

Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court; Magistrates' Courts

Political Parties and Leaders

Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

Friends of the Environment other: trade unions

Flag Description

Three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the rich resources of land and sea

National Symbols

Blue marlin; flamingo

National Anthem

: undefined

Lyrics:

Year

Government Type

  • Constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital

  • Name
    Nassau
  • Geographic Coordinates
    25 05 N, 77 21 W
  • Time Difference
    UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
  • Daylight Saving Time
    +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

Diplomatic Representation in the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador (vacant)
  • Chancery
    2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Telephone
    [1] (202) 319-2660
  • FAX
    [1] (202) 319-2668
  • Consulate(s) General
    Miami, New York

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires John DINKELMAN
  • Embassy
    42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence
  • Mailing Address
    local or express mail address
  • Telephone
    [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
  • FAX
    [1] (242) 328-2206

International Organization Participation

  • ACP
  • AOSIS
  • C
  • Caricom
  • CDB
  • CELAC
  • FAO
  • G-77
  • IADB
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • IMSO
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • LAES
  • MIGA
  • NAM
  • OAS
  • OPANAL
  • OPCW
  • Petrocaribe
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNIDO
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO (observer)