Antigua and Barbuda is a country located in the West Indies, between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic ocean and it includes the two main islands of which it is named after, Antigua being the largest and includes the capital and largest port city, St John’s and then the smaller 2nd main island of Barbuda, the country also includes several other smaller islands as well. The country was once a part of the British Empire before becoming independent in 1981, but the country is a part of the Commonwealth which means they still recognize the British Monarch as Head of State. The country is known for its beaches, rainforests and resorts as well as its display of colonial and indigenous history. The main language is Antiguan and Barbudan Creole, although most also speak English. Their currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which is a currency used by member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. As of 2017 the island nation has a population of just over 102,000.
Featured photo: Antigua and Barbuda flag edited on to a Google Map of Antigua & Barbuda.
Antigua & Barbuda adopted their own constitution in 1981, the same year they became an independent nation.
Other Islands and nations close to Antigua & Barbuda include Guadeloupe, a French overseas island territory, St Kitts & Nevis, another island nation formally of the British Empire and part of the Commonwealth as well as Anguilla and Montserrat, two British overseas island territories.
The British Monarchy and Executive Government
As Antigua & Barbuda are a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations, which is an organization of many countries formally of the British Empire, means that the British Monarch is still seen as the countries Head of State and is represented within Antigua & Barbuda by an appointed Governor-General. The powers the Governor-General holds are limited as the position is mostly ceremonial, but the position still serves a number of important roles including appointing the Prime Minister, the Head of Government, from the winning party of Parliamentary Elections, appointing a Council of Ministers based on advice from the Prime Minister and the Governor-General is in charge of appointing the Senate, which is the upper house of the Bicameral parliament. The Governor-General has an unlimited term length and so serves either until they step down or die, where a new Governor-General is then appointed by the British Monarch. Another role of the Governor-General is to make sure government and the legislative assemblies follow the country’s constitution. The Governor-General is also in charge of dissolving parliament either on advice from the Prime Minister or after a full term is completed. The Governor-General will also dissolve parliament if a no-confidence motion passes against the government. The Governor-General also has the power to pardon individuals and he is also in charge of appointing judicial judges for a number of courts on advice from the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
The Prime Minister is Head of Government and heads a Cabinet of which is charged with implementing legislation passed by the country’s legislative bodies. The Prime Minister as said is appointed from the largest party after a Parliamentary election by the Governor-General. A term lasts 5-years but there is no limit to how many terms one person can serve as Prime Minister.
The Legislative Government
The Legislative government includes the Bicameral Parliament with the House of Representatives being the lower and elected House of Parliament and the Senate being the upper and unelected House of Parliament but with certain limited powers. Parties are more obvious within the House of Representatives and the largest party after Parliamentary elections has its leader appointed as Prime Minister by the Governor-General for a 5-year term and all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate hold their seats for 5-year terms. Although the Senate can be divided by Government and Opposition Senators, it is more expected that they work together in a bi-partisan manner.
A Speaker overlooks the House of Representatives including making sure all house rules are followed and order is kept in check as well as performing other functions such as announcements of vote outcomes etc. A President is elected to overlook the Senate and performs basically similar functions to the Speaker.
The House of Representatives has 17 members elected from single-seat constituencies and two further seats, one reserved for the Speaker and another for the Attorney-General. It is possible for the number of seats to change if the make-up of constituencies is altered. To be eligible to stand as a candidate for the House of Representatives and be elected as a member there are basic requirements that must be met, they include being a citizen who is at least 21-years or older, having lived in Antigua & Barbuda for at least 12 months and able to speak English fluently. There are also a number of other requirements to, such as not being insane and not having broken certain laws among others.
The Senate also includes 17 members all of which are appointed by the Governor-General every five years in various ways, 10 are appointed by the Governor-General on advice from the Prime Minister, 4 are appointed by the Governor-General on advice from the leader of the opposition, one is appointed by the Governor-General on advice from the Barbuda Council, a resident of Barbuda is also appointed a member by the Governor-General on advice from the Prime Minister and the final member is solely appointed by the Governor-General. The Senate will then elect one of themselves to serve as President of the Senate.
The role of the parliament is to pass legislation that they have debated and then voted on, legislation is passed on to the Senate once it passes the lower house but will be passed back if rejected by the Senate, this can only happen twice, if it is passed by the lower house for a 3rd time then it bypasses the Senate and goes to the Governor-General to be signed into law. As well as legislation, parliament is in charge of passing budgets and also have the ability to change/amend/alter the constitution just as long as at least two-thirds of the house votes in favor of any constitutional amendments, including the Senate.
The Electoral System
Elections are held every 5 years in Antigua & Barbuda where the people vote to elect a new House of Representatives, which is the lower house of parliament. The Senate is appointed by the Governor-General.
Members are elected from single-seat constituencies by a first-past-the-post system where a candidate is elected via a simple majority no matter how many other candidates stand, there are no other rounds, a candidate could win by one vote and be elected with no 2nd round vote-off.
Voting requirements include being a citizen of the country or a Commonwealth citizen who has lived in the country for at least 3 years, being at least 18-years old and living within the constituency for at least a month. Voting is not compulsory.
Thank you for reading, I hope this was useful or fun to read. Next up will be Argentina.
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