User:CROIX/Government of Antigua and Barbuda

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB), is a unitary constitutional monarchy, where the Monarch of Antigua and Barbuda serves as the head of state, represented by the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda serves as the head of government.

Structure
Antigua and Barbuda has a bicameral legislature and multiple political parties, with universal adult suffrage and elections held every 5 years. The Senate has 17 members appointed by the Governor-General, with 10 being appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, 4 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, one on the advice of the Barbuda Council, one resident of Barbuda on the advice of the Prime Minister, and one at the discretion of the Governor-General. The House of Representatives with 17 members are all elected.

The highest law in Antigua and Barbuda is the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda. Officers of each house (President, Vice President; Speaker, Deputy Speaker) are all elected by members of those houses. The Cabinet is appointed by the Prime Minister, and members of the Cabinet must be either a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives. Elections are held every 5 years, however, elections may be called earlier by the Prime Minister.

History
The government has been elected since 1984, which was the first election after independence in 1981. Before independence, the Antigua and Barbuda had previously been an associated state, and earlier a British colony. The first universal adult suffrage elections in Antigua and Barbuda were held in 1951.

The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party has dominated the country since independence, except from 2004 to 2014, when the country was ruled by the United Progressive Party.

Executive branch
Antigua and Barbuda appointed its newest cabinet on 20 January 2023.

Legislative branch
The 16th Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda was sworn in on January 20th, 2023.