Legal System of Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is located in Central America N Caribbean. It is geographically situated in caribbean, islands between the caribbean sea and the north atlantic ocean, east-southeast of puerto rico. The country achieved independence on 1 november 1981 (from the uk). The capital is Saint John’s.

Government Overview

Government Type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Chief of State: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Rodney WILLIAMS (since 14 August 2014) Head of Government: Prime Minister Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister Administrative Divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip National Holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Antigua and Barbuda is described as common law based on the English model International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981, effective 31 October 1981 (The Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981) Amendment Process: proposed by either house of Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, the establishment, power, and authority of the executive and legislative branches, the Supreme Court Order, and the procedure for amending the constitution requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership of both houses, approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum, and assent to by the governor general; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by both houses

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal – headed by the chief justice and 4 judges – and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts Judge Selection: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 Subordinate Courts: Industrial Court; Magistrates’ Courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of bicameral Lower Chamber: House of Representatives (18 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): plurality/majority Upper Chamber: Senate

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: yes Citizenship by Descent: yes Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but the Arawaks populated the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English colony in 1667. Slavery, which provided labor on the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Antigua and Barbuda based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.