Constitution of The BahamasIn briefAny member may introduce Bills, motions or petitions, but Money Bills start in the House of Assembly and tax or spending measures need the Cabinet's recommendation.
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and of the rules of procedure of the Senate or the House of Assembly, as the case may be, any member of either House may introduce any Bill or propose any motion for debate in, or may present any petition to, that House, and the same shall be debated and dispose of according to the rules of procedure of that House.
Subject to this Constitution and to the rules of procedure of the Senate or the House of Assembly, as the case may be, any member of either House may introduce a Bill (a proposed law), propose a motion for debate, or present a petition in that House. It is then debated and dealt with under the rules of procedure of that House.
A bill other than a Money Bill may be introduced in either House, but a Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Senate.
A Bill other than a Money Bill (a Bill dealing only with taxation and public money, as defined in Article 62) may be introduced in either House, but a Money Bill cannot be introduced in the Senate.
Except on the recommendation of the Cabinet signified by a Minister, the House of Assembly shall not-
Except on the recommendation of the Cabinet, signified by a Minister, the House of Assembly cannot:
proceed upon any Bill (including any amendment to a Bill) which, in the opinion of the person presiding, makes provision for imposing or increasing any tax, for imposing any charge on the Consolidated Fund or any other public fund or altering any such charge otherwise than by reducing it or for compounding or remitting any debt due to The Bahamas; or
proceed with any Bill (including any amendment to a Bill) which, in the opinion of the person presiding, imposes or increases a tax, imposes a charge on the Consolidated Fund (the government's main account) or any other public fund, alters such a charge other than by reducing it, or compounds (settles for a lesser sum) or remits (lets off) a debt owed to The Bahamas; or
proceed upon any motion (including any amendment to a motion) the effect of which, in the opinion of the person presiding, is that provision shall be make for any of the purposes aforesaid.
proceed with any motion (including any amendment to a motion) whose effect, in the opinion of the person presiding, is that provision will be made for any of those purposes.
The Senate shall not-
The Senate cannot:
proceed upon any Bill, other than a Bill sent from the House of Assembly, or any amendment to a Bill which, in the opinion of the Person presiding, makes provisions for imposing or increasing any tax, for imposing any charge on the Consolidated Fund or any other public fund or altering any such charge otherwise than by reducing it or for compounding or remitting any debt due to The Bahamas; or
proceed with any Bill, other than a Bill sent from the House of Assembly, or any amendment to a Bill, which, in the opinion of the person presiding, imposes or increases a tax, imposes a charge on the Consolidated Fund or any other public fund, alters such a charge other than by reducing it, or compounds or remits a debt owed to The Bahamas; or
proceed upon any motion (including any amendment to a motion) the effect of which, in the opinion of the person presiding, is that provision shall be made for any of the purposes aforesaid.
proceed with any motion (including any amendment to a motion) whose effect, in the opinion of the person presiding, is that provision will be made for any of those purposes.