| Politics of the Bahamas takes place in a framework | | | | majority again with 29 seats to the FNM's 7 with 4 |
| of a parliamentary representative democratic | | | | independents. |
| monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of | | | | The principal focus of the Ingraham administration has |
| government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. | | | | been economic development and job creation. Many |
| The Bahamas is an independent country and | | | | of his government's policies are aimed at improving |
| Commonwealth Realm. It is a parliamentary | | | | the image of The Bahamas and making it an |
| democracy whose political and legal traditions closely | | | | attractive place for foreigners to invest. In 2000, in |
| follow those of the United Kingdom. Executive power | | | | response to multilateral organizations concerns, the |
| is exercised by the government. Legislative power is | | | | government passed stronger measures to prevent |
| vested in both the government and the two | | | | money laundering in the country's banking sector. |
| chambers of parliament. The party system is | | | | The FNM has made considerable progress in rebuilding |
| dominated by the liberal Progressive Liberal Party and | | | | the infrastructure, revitalizing the tourism industry, |
| the conservative Free National Movement. | | | | and attracting new investment to The Bahamas. A |
| Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, | | | | good start has been made to mitigate crime and |
| press, worship, movement, and association. The | | | | provide for social needs. |
| Bahamas is a member of the eastern Caribbean court | | | | Remaining challenges are to privatize The Bahamas' |
| system. The Judiciary is independent of the | | | | costly, inefficient national corporations, provide job |
| executive and the legislature. Jurisprudence is based | | | | retraining for hundreds of workers who will be |
| on English common law. | | | | affected by the change, and to continue creating |
| Political developments | | | | jobs for new entries in the employment market. |
| For decades, the white-dominated United Bahamian | | | | Currently, Bahamians do not pay income or sales |
| Party (UBP) ruled The Bahamas, then a dependency | | | | taxes. Most government revenue is derived from |
| of the United Kingdom, while a group of influential | | | | high tariffs and import fees. A major challenge for |
| white merchants, known as the "Bay Street Boys," | | | | Bahamians as the next century approaches will be to |
| dominated the local economy. In 1953, Bahamians | | | | prepare for hemispheric free trade. Reduction of |
| dissatisfied with UBP rule formed the opposition | | | | trade barriers will probably require some form of |
| Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). Under the leadership | | | | taxation to replace revenues if and when the country |
| of Lynden Pindling the PLP won control of the | | | | becomes a part of the Free Trade Area of the |
| government in 1967 and led The Bahamas to full | | | | Americas (FTAA). The advantages may be hard for |
| independence in 1973. | | | | the government to sell since The Bahamas exports |
| A coalition of PLP dissidents and former UBP | | | | so little. |
| members formed the Free National Movement (FNM) | | | | As head of state, Queen Elizabeth II is represented |
| in 1971. Former PLP cabinet minister and member of | | | | in the Bahamas by a governor general who acts on |
| parliament Hubert Ingraham became leader of the | | | | the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet. The |
| FNM in 1990, upon the death of Sir Cecil | | | | leader of the majority party serves as Prime Minister |
| Wallace-Whitfield. Under the leadership of Ingraham, | | | | and head of government. The cabinet consists of at |
| the FNM won control of the government from the | | | | least nine members, including the Prime Minister and |
| PLP in the August 1992 general elections. Winning | | | | ministers of executive departments. They answer |
| again in March 1997, the ruling FNM controlled 35 | | | | politically to the House of Assembly. The Governor |
| seats in the House of Assembly, while the PLP | | | | General appoints the Chief Justice of the Supreme |
| controlled four seats and serves as the official | | | | Court on the advice of the Prime Minister and the |
| opposition. A PLP member of Parliament split from | | | | Leader of the Opposition. The Governor General |
| the party and created the Coalition for Democratic | | | | appoints the other justices with the advice of a |
| Reform (CDR). | | | | judicial commission. The Privy Council of the United |
| After the 2002 elections, the PLP has a large | | | | Kingdom serves as the highest appellate court. |