Constitution of The BahamasIn briefThe President or Vice-President presides in the Senate and the Speaker or Deputy Speaker in the House, with an elected member standing in when both are absent.
The President of the Senate or, in his absence, the Vice-President or, if they are both absent, a Senator (not being a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary) elected by the Senate for that sitting shall preside at each sitting of the Senate.
The President of the Senate presides at each sitting of the Senate. If the President is absent, the Vice-President presides. If both are absent, a Senator (not a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary) elected by the Senate for that sitting presides.
The Speaker or, in his absence, the Deputy Speaker or, if they are both absent, a member (not being a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary) elected by the House for that sitting shall preside at each sitting of the House of Assembly.
The Speaker presides at each sitting of the House of Assembly. If the Speaker is absent, the Deputy Speaker presides. If both are absent, a member (not a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary) elected by the House for that sitting presides.
References in this Article to circumstances in which the President, Vice- President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker is absent include references to circumstances in which the office of President, Vice-President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker is vacant.
In this Article, references to the President, Vice-President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker being absent include the situation where the office of President, Vice-President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker is vacant.