Constitution of The BahamasIn briefThe Governor-General, on the Prime Minister's advice, may prorogue or dissolve Parliament; Parliament lasts five years unless dissolved sooner, extendable only in wartime.
The Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, may at any time by proclamation prorogue Parliament.
The Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may at any time prorogue Parliament (end a session of Parliament without dissolving it) by proclamation (a formal public announcement).
The Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, may at any time by proclamation dissolve Parliament:
The Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may at any time dissolve Parliament (end the life of a Parliament so that a general election follows) by proclamation:
Provided that if the office of Prime Minister is vacant and the Governor-General considers that there is no prospect of his being able within a reasonable time to appoint to that office a person who can command the confidence of a majority of the members of the House of Assembly, he shall dissolve Parliament.
But if the office of Prime Minister is vacant and the Governor-General considers that there is no prospect of being able, within a reasonable time, to appoint to that office a person who can command the confidence of a majority of the members of the House of Assembly, the Governor-General must dissolve Parliament.
Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4) of this Article, Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved.
Subject to paragraph (4) of this Article, unless it is dissolved sooner, Parliament continues for five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution and is then dissolved.
At any time when The Bahamas is at war, Parliament may extend the period of five years specified in paragraph (3) of this Article for not more than twelve months at a time:
At any time when The Bahamas is at war, Parliament may extend the five-year period set in paragraph (3) of this Article by no more than twelve months at a time:
Provided that the life of Parliament shall not be extended under this paragraph for more than two years.
But the life of Parliament cannot be extended under this paragraph by more than two years in total.
If, between a dissolution of Parliament and the next ensuing general election of members to the House of Assembly, an emergency arises of such a nature that, in the opinion of the Prime Minister, it is necessary for the two Houses or either of them to be summoned before that general election can be held, the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, may summon the thereupon be deemed (except for the purposes of Article 67 of this Constitution) not to have been dissolved but shall be deemed (except as aforesaid) to be dissolved on the date on which the polls are held in the next ensuing general election.
Suppose that, between a dissolution of Parliament and the next general election of members of the House of Assembly, an emergency arises of such a kind that, in the opinion of the Prime Minister, the two Houses or either of them must be summoned before that general election can be held. The Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may then summon the two Houses of the dissolved Parliament. That Parliament is then treated (except for the purposes of Article 67 of this Constitution) as not having been dissolved, but is treated (with the same exception) as dissolved on the date on which the polls are held in the next general election.