Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is an independent nation and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It has a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The Head of State is the British Monarch, represented in the country by a Governor General, who is appointed by the Monarch in consultation with the Prime Minister. The Head of Government is the Prime Minister, appointed by the Governor General based on their position as leader of the majority party or coalition following an election.

Antigua and Barbuda has a national-level government and local administrative units. The local administrative units are divided into six districts on Antigua and two dependencies (the islands of Barbuda and Redonda).

The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda is bicameral. The House of Representatives consists of 17 members elected by universal suffrage. The Senate also has 17 members appointed by the Governor General: 10 on the advice of the Prime Minister, 4 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and 3 as independents.

There are no local government structures in Antigua. In Barbuda, there is the Barbuda Council, composed of 11 councillors, 9 of whom are directly elected by universal suffrage. The remaining 2 are ex officio members: the representative of Barbuda in the House of Representatives and one representative from the Senate.

Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda: five years; Barbuda Council: four years, with elections for half of the seats every two years.

House of Representatives: First-past-the-post system.

Not applicable.

There are 17 electoral districts, each represented by one member in the House of Representatives.

None.

Barbuda Local Government Act 1976.

Independent Electoral Management Body: Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission.