Bahamas is supreme independent country. Political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom and the Westminster system. Bahamas is a parliamentary democracy with two major parties, the Free National Movement and the Progressive Liberal Party.
Tourism generates about half of all jobs, but the number of visitors has dropped significantly since the beginning of a global economic slowdown during the last quarter of 2008. Banking and international financial services as contracted, and the Bahamas is one of 34 jurisdictions secrecy, which was subjected to the law on tax haven Stops Abuse, introduced in the U.S. Congress.
The archipelago of the Bahamas is a way station for drug smugglers and those who have no rights of citizenship, seeking to enter the United States. Aggressive anti-money laundering efforts have forced some offshore banks suffer losses and leave the country. Bahamas is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, with the Queen Elizabeth II as head of state (represented by Governor-General).
Legislative power is vested in the bicameral Parliament, which consists of houses with 41 member Assembly (lower house), with selected areas fromsingle-party participants, and the Senate with 16 members, with members appointed by the Governor-General, including nine on the advice of the Prime Minister, four on the board of the opposition leader, and three on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. House of Assembly performs all major legislative functions. As under the Westminster system, the prime minister may dissolve parliament and call a general election at any time within the five-year term.
Prime Minister is Head of Government and is a leader of the party with most seats in the House of Assembly. Executive power is exercised by the cabinet, selected by the Prime Minister and drawn from his supporters in the House of Assembly. The current Governor-General is Arthur Dion Hanna and the current Prime Minister is Hubert Ingraham.
In the Bahamas is largely two-party system dominated by center-left Progressive Liberal Party and the center-right Free National Movement. A handful of splinter parties had been unable to win election to Parliament. These parties include the Bahamas Democratic Movement, the Coalition for Democratic Reform and the Bahamian Nationalist Party.
Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. Although the Bahamas is not geographically located in the Caribbean, it is a member of the Caribbean Community. The judiciary is independent from the executive and the legislature. Law based on English law.
Government House in Nassau
Government House is located in the old part of Nassau on Bay Street. This street is the most fashionable place to shop, as well as different lots of government buildings. All the buildings are part of the city are made in the colonial style. Government House was built in the late XVIII century. The facade of the Government goes to Parliament Square, which is decorated with a statue of Queen Victoria. It should be noted that the Commonwealth Government is in the house of the parliament, which is adjacent to House of Government.