Constitution of The BahamasIn briefRequires the Senate to elect a President and a Vice-President from Senators who are not Ministers, and sets out when they leave office or step aside.
When the Senate first meets after this Constitution comes into operation or after any general election and before it proceeds to the dispatch of any other business, the Senate shall, in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the rules of procedure of the Senate, elect a Senator to be President of the Senate; and, if the office of President falls vacant at any time, the Senate shall, as soon as practicable, proceed in like manner to fill the vacant office.
When the Senate first meets after this Constitution comes into operation, or after any general election, and before it deals with any other business, the Senate must elect a Senator to be President of the Senate, following the procedure set out in the Senate's rules of procedure. If the office of President becomes vacant at any time, the Senate must fill it in the same way as soon as practicable.
When the Senate first meets after this Constitution comes into operation or after any general election and before it proceeds to the dispatch of any other business except the election of the President it shall elect a Senator to be Vice-President of the Senate; and if the office of Vice-President falls vacant at any time, the Senate shall, as soon as practicable, elect a Senator to that office.
When the Senate first meets after this Constitution comes into operation, or after any general election, and before it deals with any business other than electing the President, it must elect a Senator to be Vice-President of the Senate. If the office of Vice-President becomes vacant at any time, the Senate must elect a Senator to that office as soon as practicable.
The Senate shall not elect a Senator who is a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary to be the President or Vice-President of the Senate.
The Senate cannot elect a Senator who is a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary to be President or Vice-President of the Senate.
A person shall vacate the office of President or Vice-President of the Senate-
A person leaves the office of President or Vice-President of the Senate:
if he ceases to be a Senator;
if they stop being a Senator;
if he is appointed to be a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary;
if they are appointed as a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary;
if he announces the resignation of his office to the Senate or if, by writing under his hand addressed, in the case of the President, to the President (or, if the office of President is vacant of the President is absent from The Bahamas, to the Clerk), he resigns that office; or
if they announce their resignation from the office to the Senate, or resign from it by a signed letter addressed, in the case of the President, to the Clerk and, in the case of the Vice-President, to the President (or, if the office of President is vacant or the President is away from The Bahamas, to the Clerk); or
in the case of the Vice-President, if he is elected to be President.
in the case of the Vice-President, if they are elected President.
If, by virtue of Article 43(3) of this Constitution, the President or Vice-President is required to cease to perform his functions as a Senator he shall also cease to perform his functions as President or Vice-President, as the case may be, and those functions shall, until he vacates his seat in the Senate or resumes the performance of the functions of his office, be performed-
If, under Article 43(3) of this Constitution, the President or Vice-President must stop performing their functions as a Senator, they must also stop performing their functions as President or Vice-President. Until they give up their seat in the Senate or resume the functions of their office, those functions are performed:
in the case of the President, by the Vice-President or, if the office of Vice-President is vacant or the Vice-President is required to cease to perform his functions as a Senator by virtue of Article 43(3) of this Constitution, by such Senator (not being a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary) as the Senate may elected for the purpose;
in the case of the President, by the Vice-President or, if the office of Vice-President is vacant or the Vice-President must also stop performing their functions as a Senator under Article 43(3) of this Constitution, by a Senator (not a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary) elected by the Senate for that purpose;
in the case of the Vice-President, by such Senator (not being a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary) as the Senate may elect for the purpose.
in the case of the Vice-President, by a Senator (not a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary) elected by the Senate for that purpose.
If the President or Vice-President resumes the performance of his functions as a Senator in accordance with the provisions f Article 43(5) of this Constitution, he shall also resume the performance of his functions as President or Vice-President, as the case may be.
If the President or Vice-President resumes their functions as a Senator under Article 43(5) of this Constitution, they also resume their functions as President or Vice-President, as the case may be.