Government (The Bahamas)
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     Long-form name:
         The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
     Type:
         commonwealth
     Capital:
         Nassau
     Administrative divisions:
         21 districts; Abaco, Acklins Island, Andros Island, Berry Islands,
         Biminis, Cat Island, Cay Lobos, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand
         Bahama, Harbour Island, Inagua, Long Cay, Long Island, Mayaguana,
         New Providence, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador,
         Spanish Wells
     Independence:
         10 July 1973 (from UK)
     Constitution:
         10 July 1973
     Legal system:
         based on English common law
     National holiday:
         National Day, 10 July (1973)
     Executive branch:
         British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime
         minister, Cabinet
     Legislative branch:
         bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower
         house or House of Assembly
     Judicial branch:
         Supreme Court
     Leaders:
       Chief of State:
         Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by
         Acting Governor General Sir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January 1992)
       Head of Government:
         Prime Minister Sir Lynden Oscar PINDLING (since 16 January 1967)
     Political parties and leaders:
         Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National
         Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 18
     Elections:
       House of Assembly:
         last held 19 June 1987 (next to be held by NA June 1992);
         results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(49 total) PLP 32, FNM 17
         *** No entry for this item ***
     Other political or pressure groups:
         Vanguard Nationalist and Socialist Party (VNSP), a small leftist party
         headed
         by Lionel CAREY; Trade Union Congress (TUC), headed by Arlington MILLER
     Member of:
         ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
         ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
         OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
     Diplomatic representation:
         Ambassador Margaret E. McDONALD; Chancery at 2220 Massachusetts
         Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 319-2660; there are
         Bahamian Consulates General in Miami and New York;