WEEK 4

FORMING A GOVERNMENT
In a democracy, the government is elected by the people. They decide in an election who their leader
will be. After the votes have been counted and re-checked in a general election, the leader of the
winning party becomes Prime Minister. He is sworn in by the Governor General. The leader
of the party with the next highest number of seats is appointed as the Leader of the Opposition
by the Governor General.
THE CABINET
The first duty of the new Prime Minister is to form a new Cabinet. Its members are usually
selected from among members of the Prime Minister's party in Parliament. Sometimes the Prime
Minister selects Cabinet ministers that are not MP's therefore they have to be appointed to the
Senate.
Cabinet members have to be members of either the House of Assembly or the Senate. The
cabinet assists the Prime Minister in carrying out his government's policies and
programmes. Each minister's responsibilities are the portfolios. To help them in performing their
duties, Cabinet ministers are assisted by Parliamentary Secretaries.
Every minister is responsible for new laws and important new schemes. These are discussed by the
cabinet before they go to parliament. Ministers are held responsible for whatever happens in the
department under their portfolios.
The Prime Minister must, however, accept full responsibility for all that his government does or neglect
to do.
THE SENATE
The Senate has 16 members. After selecting his cabinet, the Prime Minister advises the Governor
General to appoint 12 senators. The other four are appointed on the advice of the leader of the
Opposition. It is their job to discuss and amend Bills passed by the House of Assembly. They make
sure that the new law is precise and clear.
Once the senators have been appointed, the official opening of parliament takes place. During this
ceremony, the senators are sworn in and the President of the senate is elected by the senators.
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
Parliamentarians in the House of Assembly are also sworn in by the Governor General. To swear
in means to take an oath to do their duty to their country.

The speaker of the House of Assembly is elected by the Members of Parliament. A Deputy Speaker is
also elected during this session. After the proceedings in the Senate and the House of Assembly ends,
both Houses listen to a Speech from the Throne. At present there are 38 members in the House of
Assembly.
Every year the Governor General opens Parliament by reading the Speech from Throne. This is
prepared for him/her by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The speech outlines the government's plans
for the coming year.
The chief business of the House of Assembly is to discuss and amend bills. A Bill is introduced
and read three times, it is debated and after the third reading, if it is successful, it becomes an Act
and goes to the Senate for approval.
THE SPEAKER
The speaker of the House of Assembly acts as a chairman and presides over the House while it is in
session. He or she maintains order and discipline but does not take part in debates. While he or she
carries out his or her duties, he or she must not favor any party. He or she does not vote unless there is
a tie and then he or she may give a casting vote. He or she is assisted by the Deputy Speaker who
presides over the House in his or her absence. To maintain order, the speaker may have to ask the
Sergeant-at Arms to escort a Member of Parliament out of the House of Assembly, but this seldom
happens.