Theme 1: Our System of Government

What is Government?
1. An organization is a group of people who join together to get something done. Example,
church, school, school club
2. Some officers found in organization includes the President, Vice President, Secretary
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

and Treasurer
We need government to get things done and to have rules and laws to live by.
Each area of government is the responsibility of a special department called a ministry.
Governments are responsible for transportation, building roads, hospitals and schools.
Government decides on the rules that the people must obey. These rules are called laws.
Another responsibility of the government is to make sure that everyone receives justice

and is treated equally.

8. When a law is broken in our country, the facts-called evidence is examined before a
judge in a court of law.
9. The evidence is considered by a group of ordinary people who form the jury.
10.A jury is a group of people who look at evidence to decide whether or not a person is
guilty of a crime.
Forms of Government
1. When countries are left with no form of government this is called anarchy.
2. Several forms of governments around the world include democracy, monarchy,
dictatorship and republic
3. Democracy- (a) free elections, (b) freedom of speech (c0 there is a cabinet of leaders
that is responsible for the ministries and judges who are responsible for administering
the law. (d) there are several political parties.
4. Dictatorship- (a) it is ruled by one person, or a small clique (b) the leader is called a
dictator and holds power over the people by force. (c) there is no freedom of speech or
movement, and no free elections (d) backed by the army
5. Monarchy-(a) has a sovereign or monarch as leader- this person may be a king or a
queen , an emperor or an empress (b) a leader usually inherits the power to govern-this
means the power has been handed down through the royal or imperial family (c)
monarchies are in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Saudi Arabia and Thailand
6. Republic- (a) the leader (or head of state) is the President, who may or may not be
elected by the people (b) the position of the president is not inherited (c) South Africa,
a and the United States of America have republican governments

The Bahamas Government

1. In The Bahamas we have a constitutional monarchy. This means that we are in a
democracy, but we also have a monarch- the Queen.
THE BAHAMAS: AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY
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1. The way in which a country is governed is set out in a document called the constitution.
It lays out the duties of the prime minister and his cabinet, and states how Parliament
The House of Assembly and the Senate.
2. The constitution is a legal document that protects all citizens rights and freedoms.
4. CHOOSING A GOVERNMENT
Campaigning for elections
1. Our country is divided into voting areas called constitutions. There were 38
constituencies in the May 7, 2012 General Election
2. PLP- Progressive Liberal Party; FNM_ Free National Movement: DNA- Democratic
National Alliance: Constitutional Party: Independents
3. To vote (a) you must be 18 years old (b) a citizen of The Bahamas
4. You cannot vote if (a) you are mentally ill (b) if you are a prisoner-it is a part of their
punishment
5. Elections are held every five years.
6. Candidate- is someone stands for elections
7. The steps taken during the run up- to a general election, when a new government is
chosen. (1) Parliament dissolved ( 21to 26) days before the date of the general elections)
(2) election day announced (3) Nomination day (4) Campaign (5) election day
8. In an election campaign, every constituency has meetings or rallies at which candidates
tell the people about their partys policies and their plans for the future. They explain
what they will try to do if they are elected.
Election Day
1. No alcohol can be sold on that day. It is prohibited.
1. Schools, church halls and other public buildings are used as polling stations, where
people go to vote.
2. The ballot is a voting form or a piece of paper that a voter marks an X on it beside the
name of the candidate he or she is supporting
3. secret ballot-voting so that only the person who votes knows what or who he or she has
voted for
4. When the polling stations close, the votes are counted for the first time. The first count of
the votes is called preliminary return.
5 Forming a Government
1. The cabinet is the Prime Minister and his or her ministers
2. The Senate has 16 members. 12 are appointed by the advice of the Prime Minister to the
Governor General. The other 4 is appointed by the advice of the leader of the opposition
to the Governor General.
3. Bill-proposal in Parliament for a new law.
4. The Senates job is to discuss and amend Bills that are passed by the House of Assembly.
They make sure that the new law is clear and precise.
5. The House of Assemblys job is to discuss the nations business and pass laws.
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6 Making the laws of The Bahamas

1. There are two types of laws: common-law (or case law) and statue law.
2. Common law is unwritten law, while statue law is written down law
3. When the government decides that a new law is needed, the minister who is responsible
for the department (ministry) proposes the new law discusses it with government
lawyers, called legal draftsmen.
4. Legal draftsmens job is to write new laws. They must make sure that the new laws
follow the rules of the constitution.
5. If rules dont follow the constitution, it would be unconstitutional, (against the
constitution) and could not be enforced. The new law must not conflict with any existing
laws.
6. The minister, whom the Bill concerns, gives Parliament notice that he or she wants MPs
to discuss or debate the Bill at a later sitting.
7. A debate means to discuss something.
8. When the Bill is read by Parliament for the first time, it is called the First Reading of
the Bill. From this time copies of the Bill are available for all MPs to study.
9. Sometimes a Bill is referred to a special group of people, a select committee, for further
study.
10.When the Bill has been approved, it is signed by the Governor-General, and become an
Act of Parliament.
11.Copies are made and given out and it is announced in the media: newspaper, television,
radio, internet etc.
12.Act of Parliament Bill that has been officially approved to make it law

7 Enforcing the law

1. We need law-enforcers to make sure that the laws are obeyed. People who break the law
are committing a crime.
2. Law enforcers people who make sure people obey the law, for example, policemen
3. The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and The Royal Bahamas Defence Force
(RBDF) are the two groups of law enforcers.
4. The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) was established in 1840. It is their duty of the
police to arrest people who commit a crime and to bring them to court.
5. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) was created in 1979 by an Act of
Parliament. However it was founded or established May 1980.
6. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has been mandated to (a) defend The
Bahamas (b) protect its territorial integrity, (c) patrol its water (d) provide assistance in
times of disaster.
8 The Work of the law courts
(1) Family Island Administrators (2) Magistrates Court (3) Supreme Court (4) Court of Appeal
and (5) Privy Council
1. When a suspect or defendant has been arrested by the police or defence force, he or she
is brought before one of the law courts to (a) settle arguments between citizens (b) punish
criminals
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2. Every suspect- or defendant must be given a fair trial. A defendant is someone accused in
court of a crime.
3. There are four different types of court in The Bahamas: (1)Magistrates Court (2)
Supreme Court (3) Court of Appeal (4) Juvenile Court
4. A 5th (fifth) court is the Privy Council, located in London, England
5. Administration- management of affairs
6. Constable-rank in the police force
7. On a Family Islands, the Family Island Administrator hears minor cases and can act as a
judge on these cases.
8. The Administrator is assisted by local Justices of the Peace (JPs) and local constables,
who see that law-breakers are brought to the court.
9. A Justice of the Peace may fill in for Administrators and magistrates where necessary.
10.A Justice of the Peace does other legal work such as preparing documents like affidavits.
11.A local constable is an officer of the Royal Bahamas Police Force
12.Magistrates Court- Magistrates are paid officials who judge cases such as traffic and
licensing offences, and civil matters such as minor disputes between individuals.
13.Supreme Court- cases that cannot be settled in the Magistrates Courts are sent to the
Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is often in the news because it is here that most
criminal cases are heard.
14.In the Supreme Court, cases are heard before a jury of 12 men and women who are all
ordinary citizens. Anyone who is registered voter may be called to jury service.
15.Juvenile Court is a special court that deals only with cases involving young people less
than 18 years of age. No one under the age of 18 can be sent to prison.
16.The Court of Appeal-is there for Bahamians who think that their case has not been dealt
with fairly.
17.The Court of Appeal consists of a President, who is a justice, and four other justices.
18. The court of appeal hears civil and criminal appeals from the Supreme Court. It may
also hear appeals from the Magistrates Court.