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DOMINICA
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
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| Parliament (generic name): |
House of Assembly |
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| Structure: |
Unicameral |
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| Chamber: |
House of Assembly |
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| President: |
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| Secretary General: |
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| Members (statutory number): |
31 |
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members
- 21 directly elected
- 9 Senators appointed by the Head of State (ncluding the Attorney-General)
- Speaker |
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| Members (current number): |
31 |
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| Women (current number): |
6 ( 19.35 %) |
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| Term: |
5 years |
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| Last renewal dates (from/to): |
31 January 2000 |
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31 January 2000 |
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| Address: |
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| Web site: |
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| Affiliation to IPU: |
No |
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| Affiliation date(s): |
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| ELECTORAL SYSTEM |
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| Electoral law: |
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16 July 1951 |
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Last amendment: 1990 |
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| Constituencies : |
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21 single-member constituencies. |
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| Voting system : |
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Direct election. Simple majority vote.
Vacancies of Representatives' seats between general elections are filled
through by-elections, held within 3 months. Senators' seats are filled through
appointment, also within 3 months.
Voting is not compulsory |
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| Voter requirements : |
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- age: 18 years
- British Commonwealth citizenship
- fulfilment of residence or domicile requirements |
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| Eligibility : |
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- age: 21 years
- Dominican citizenship (Commonwealth citizenship for Senate candidates)
- residence in Dominica or previous 12 months' residence immediately before
nomination
- sufficient ability to speak and read English
- ineligibility: allegiance to a foreign State, undischarged bankruptcy,
insanity, sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding 12 months. |
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| Incompatibilities : |
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- ministers of religion
- certain government contractors |
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| Candidacy requirements : |
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- accompanied by deposit equivalent to US$ 184, which is reimbursed
if the candidate obtains at least 1/8 of the valid votes cast in the constituency |
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| LAST ELECTIONS |
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| Dates of elections / renewal (from/to): |
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31 January 2000 |
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31 January 2000 |
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| Purpose of elections : |
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Elections were held for all the directly elected seats in the
House of the Assembly following the dissolution of Parliament on 3rd January
2000. General elections had previously been held in June 1995. |
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| Background and outcome of elections : |
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In the 2000 general elections, the ruling centre-left United
Workers' Party (UWP), led by Prime Minister Edison James, was primarily
opposed by the Dominica Labour Party (DLP), headed by Mr. Rosie Douglas.
The electoral campaign was dominated by the Dominica Labour Party's charges
that the government's selling of passports to wealthy foreigners was besmirching
the island's image. Like several Caribbean countries, Dominica began selling
passports under programmes linked to offshore banking centres in the early
1990s, in order to offset a decline in revenues resulting from the drying-up
of traditional aid sources and the collapse of the banana industry.
As for the ruling UWP, it tried to focus attention on its record of building
new homes, schools and roads, as well as the 3.5% economic growth recorded
in 1999, despite troubles within the banana industry, the biggest foreign
exchange earner.
About 60 000 people were registered to choose 21 legislators among the 56
candidates.
The DLP was elected to office, winning ten of the 21 seats in the House
of Assembly while the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), won two seats. These
two parties were partners in the opposition and between the 1995 and 2000
general elections had agreed to alternate the office of Opposition Leader.
The UWP, which had won the 1995 general elections with a slim one-seat majority,
won only nine seats this time around.
On 7 February, the new Prime Minister, Rosie Douglas, and his coalition
Cabinet comprising the DLP and DFP, were sworn in.
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| Statistics : |
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| Round no 1 (31 January 2,000) - Elections results: |
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| Number of registered electors |
60,266 |
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| Voters |
36,264 (60.17 %) |
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| Blank or invalid ballot papers |
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| Valid votes |
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| Round no 1: Distribution of votes |
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| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
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% of votes |
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| Dominica Labor Party (DLP) |
21 |
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| United Workers' Party (UWP) |
21 |
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| Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) |
14 |
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| Round no 1: Distribution of seats |
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| Political group |
Total of seats |
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| Dominica Labor Party (DLP) |
10 |
5 |
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| United Workers' Party (UWP) |
9 |
-2 |
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| Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) |
2 |
-3 |
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| Note : |
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| Distribution of seats according to sex : |
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| Men : |
26 |
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| Women : |
6 |
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| Percent of women: |
19.35 |
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| Distribution of seats according to age : |
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| Distribution of seats according to profession : |
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| PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT |
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| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
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| Title : |
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Speaker of the House of Assembly |
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| Term : |
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- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: if he ceases to be a Member or if
he becomes a member of a Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary (when the
Speaker is elected among the Members of the House) ; if he ceases to be
a Commonwealth citizen, if he is elected to be President of the Republic
or if his responsability is called into question (when the Speaker is elected
among persons who were not Members); death, dissolution of the House |
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| Appointment : |
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- elected by all Members of the Assembly
- election is held when the House first meets after general elections or
when a vacancy for the office of the Speaker arises
- before the Members are sworn in |
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| Eligibility : |
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- any Member of the House can be candidate except a member
of Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary
- any person who is not a Member of the House can also be candidate |
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| Voting system : |
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- formal vote by secret ballot
- one round by clear majority; in the event of a tie more rounds are held |
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| Procedures / results : |
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- the Leader of the House and the Prime Minister preside over
the Assembly during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- the Clerk confirms the election
- the results can be challenged |
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| STATUS |
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| Status : |
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- ranks third in the hierachy of the State
- may be called upon to replace the Head of State in the event of the latter's
absence
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- is member of Board and advisory bodies outside Parliament
- represents the Assembly in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
- is ex officio President of the Broadcasting Committee and the Privileges
Committee
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role
and functions; if they are both absent a Member of the House (not being
a Member of the Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary) may be elected for
that purpose |
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| Board : |
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| Material facilities: |
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- salary: less than E.C.$ 2,000
- allowance: $1,635
- for travelling and entertainment: $ 266
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| FUNCTIONS |
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| Organization of parliamentary business : |
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- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study |
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| Chairing of public sittings : |
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- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such
measures with support of the Leader of the House
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly |
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| Special powers : |
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the Cabinet Secretariat:
- is responsible for establishing the Assembly's budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in
the event of disturbance in the Chamber |
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| Speaking and voting rights, other functions : |
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