House of Assembly of Dominica
 | This article needs to be updated. (March 2016) |
House of Assembly of Dominica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 32 members |
 | |
Political groups | Governing party
Opposition party
Other members
|
| Meeting place | |
| Roseau | |
| Website | |
| www | |
 |
|---|
| Administrative divisions (parishes) |
The House of Assembly is the legislature of Dominica. It is established by Chapter III of the Constitution of Dominica, and together with the President of Dominica constitutes Dominica's Parliament. The House is unicameral, and consists of twenty-one Representatives, nine Senators, and the Attorney General is an ex officio member. The Speaker of the House becomes the thirty-second member if chosen from outside the membership of the House.
Representatives are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority (or First-past-the-post) system for a term of five years. The Representatives in turn decide whether the Senators are to be elected by their vote, or appointed. If appointed, five are chosen by the president with the advice of the prime minister and four with the advice of the opposition leader. The current Senators are appointed.
Alix Boyd Knights is the current Speaker of the House of Assembly, and was elected from outside the membership of the House. First elected on April 17, 2000, Knights is the longest to serve in that position.[1]
The Cabinet of Dominica is appointed from members of the House of Assembly. However, no more than three Senators may be members of the Cabinet.
Representatives
As of the election held on 18 December 2009, the Dominica Labour Party holds 18 of the 21 directly elected seats, and the opposition United Workers' Party holds three seats. The next election is scheduled for 2014.[2]
Senators
Due to the opposition boycott of the House of Assembly, only five senators were initially appointed.[6]
| Senator | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton Baptiste | DLP | Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6] Resigned to run as a candidate in the 2010 by-election.[7] |
| Ezekiel Bazil | UWP | Appointed by the Opposition Leader on 5 August 2010.[8] |
| Alvin Bernard | DLP | Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6] |
| Ron Green | UWP | Appointed by the Opposition Leader on 5 August 2010.[8] |
| Ronnie Isidore | UWP | Appointed by the Opposition Leader on 5 August 2010.[8] |
| Tammy Jean-Jacques | DLP | Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6] |
| Daniel Lugay | UWP | Appointed by the Opposition Leader, sworn in on 25 October 2011, to replace the resigning Claudius Sanford.[9] |
| Bentley Royer | DLP | Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6] Resigned to run as a candidate in the 2010 by-election.[10] |
| Charles Savarin | DLP | Appointed by the Prime Minister, sworn in on 4 January 2010.[6] |
See also
- List of members of the House of Assembly of Dominica
- List of Speakers of the House of Assembly of Dominica
- History of Dominica
- List of legislatures by country
Notes
- ^ Boyd Knights celebrates stint as longest serving House Speaker, 21 April 2010, retrieved 22 April 2010.
- ^ PM announces date for general elections, Dominica News Online, 14 February 2011, archived from the original on February 17, 2011, retrieved 21 February 2011
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help). - ^ a b BBC Caribbean News in Brief: Opposition wins Dominica by-election, BBC Caribbean, 12 July 2010, retrieved 14 July 2010
- ^ a b Electoral Office, 2010 By-Election Results (Final Count), Commonwealth of Dominica, archived from the original on December 6, 2010, retrieved 25 September 2010
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help). - ^ Hector John Sworn in as Leader of the Opposition, Dominica Central, 20 July 2010, archived from the original on March 9, 2012, retrieved 2010-09-25
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help). - ^ a b c d e f DLP announces new senators, Dominica News Online, 4 February 2010, retrieved 25 September 2010[dead link].
- ^ DLP's Dayton Baptiste Concedes Defeat in Marigot By-election, Dominica Central, 10 July 2010, archived from the original on March 9, 2012, retrieved 25 September 2010
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help). - ^ a b c Ron Green named opposition senator, Caribbean Daily News, 5 August 2010, archived from the original on April 22, 2012, retrieved 25 September 2010
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help). - ^ UWP appoints new senator, Dominica News Online, 25 October 2011, retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ Bentley Royer Begrudgingly Concedes Defeat in Salisbury, Dominica Central, 10 July 2010, archived from the original on July 10, 2011, retrieved 14 July 2010
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help).
References
- Electoral Office (21 December 2009), House of Assembly General Election 2009 - Final Count (PDF), Commonwealth of Dominica, archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011, retrieved 22 April 2010
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help). - House of Assembly - dominica.gov, Commonwealth of Dominica, retrieved 22 April 2010.
- Lawrence, Alick C., The Constitution, The Government & You, Pont Casse Press, pp. 40–41, ISBN 0-9737347-5-2.
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