3 GeoFroggy

Bahamas, The

Continent:

Geography

People &
Society

Government

Economy

Energy

Communications

Military &
Security

Transportation

Terrorism

Transnational Issues
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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

Previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973; amended many times, last in 2002; note - in 2012, a constitutional commission was appointed to review and recommend constitutional changes (2013)

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 2012)

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 (38 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 30, FNM 8

Judicial Branch

highest court(s): The Bahamas Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices, sitting in panels of 3 justices)

Note - as of 2008, the Bahamas was not a party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of : undefined

judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal justices appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister and in consultation with the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 68-70

subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates Courts; Family Island Administrators

Political Parties and Leaders

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

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

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 Dr. Eugene Glenwood NEWRY (since 3 December 2013)
  • Chancery
    2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Telephone
    [1] (202) 319-2660
  • FAX
    [1] (202) 319-2668
  • Consulate(s) General
    Atlanta, Miami, New York

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires John DINKELMAN (since November 2011)
  • 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)
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