ÿþ<html> <head> <title> Bahamas, The Government 2013, CIA World Factbook </title> <META NAME="Description" CONTENT="Bahamas, The Government 2013, CIA World Factbook"> <META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="Bahamas, The, Government, 2013, CIA, World, Factbook"> <script language="JavaScript"> function AddToFaves_hp(){ var is_4up = parseInt(navigator.appVersion); var is_mac = navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("mac")!=-1; var is_ie = navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase().indexOf("msie")!=-1; var thePage = location.href; if (thePage.lastIndexOf('#')!=-1) thePage = thePage.substring(0,thePage.lastIndexOf('#')); if (is_ie && is_4up && !is_mac) window.external.AddFavorite(thePage,document.title); else if (is_ie || document.images) booker_hp = window.open(thePage,'booker_','menubar,width=325,height=100,left=140,top=60'); //booker_hp.focus(); } //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; 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/* WFB Medium Rectangle */ google_ad_slot = "5200087626"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> <br> Page last updated on February 14, 2013 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#country_name">Country name:</a></b><br> <i>conventional long form: </i>Commonwealth of The Bahamas <br><i> conventional short form: </i>The Bahamas <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#government_type">Government type:</a></b><br> constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#capital">Capital:</a></b><br> <i>name: </i>Nassau <br><i> geographic coordinates: </i>25 05 N, 77 21 W <br><i> time difference: </i>UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) <br><i> daylight saving time: </i>+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#administrative_divisions">Administrative divisions:</a></b><br> 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 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#independence">Independence:</a></b><br> 10 July 1973 (from the UK) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#national_holiday">National holiday:</a></b><br> Independence Day, 10 July (1973) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#constitution">Constitution:</a></b><br> 10 July 1973 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#legal_system">Legal system:</a></b><br> common law system based on the English model <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#international_law_organization_participation">International law organization participation:</a></b><br> has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#suffrage">Suffrage:</a></b><br> 18 years of age; universal <br>[see also: <a href="http://www.photius.com/rankings/population/suffrage_2013_0.html" target="_blank"><u>Suffrage country ranks</u></a> ] <p><b><a href = "bahamas_the_chiefs.html">Executive branch</a>:</b><br> <i>chief of state: </i>Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14 April 2010) <br><i> head of government: </i>Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 8 May 2011) <br><i> cabinet: </i>Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation <br><i> elections: </i>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 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#legislative_branch">Legislative branch:</a></b><br> 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 <br><i> elections: </i>last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2017) <br><i> election results: </i>percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 9 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#judicial_branch">Judicial branch:</a></b><br> Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court; Magistrates' Courts <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#political_parties_and_leaders">Political parties and leaders:</a></b><br> Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE] <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#political_pressure_groups_and_leaders">Political pressure groups and leaders:</a></b><br> Friends of the Environment <br><i> other: </i>trade unions <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/abbreviations.html">International organization participation</a>:</b><br> 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) <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#diplomatic_representation_in_the_us">Diplomatic representation in the US:</a></b><br> <i>chief of mission: </i>Ambassador (vacant) <br><i> chancery: </i>2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 <br><i> telephone: </i>[1] (202) 319-2660 <br><i> FAX: </i>[1] (202) 319-2668 <br><i> consulate(s) general: </i>Atlanta, Miami, New York <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#diplomatic_representation_from_the_us">Diplomatic representation from the US:</a></b><br> <i>chief of mission: </i>Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires John DINKELMAN <br><i> embassy: </i>42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence <br><i> mailing address: </i>local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370 <br><i> telephone: </i>[1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours) <br><i> FAX: </i>[1] (242) 328-2206 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/flags/">Flag</a> description:</b><br> 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 <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#national_symbol">National symbol(s):</a></b><br> blue marlin; flamingo <p><b><a href = "http://www.theodora.com/wfb/wfb2000/definitions.html#national_anthem">National anthem:</a></b><br> <i>name: </i>"March On, Bahamaland!" <div id="mediaplayer" style="height: 23px;"> <script type="text/javascript" src="jwplayer.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> jwplayer("mediaplayer").setup({ 'flashplayer' : "player.swf", 'file': "../anthems/BF.mp3", 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '370', 'height': '23' }); </script> <br><i> lyrics/music: </i>Timothy GIBSON <br><i> <em>note:</em> </i>adopted 1973; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom) </font> <p> <p> <BR> <P> <font size = "-2"><B> NOTE: The information regarding Bahamas, The on this page is re-published from the 2013 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. 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