Constitution of Bahamas

Removal from office of certain persons.

126.- (1) A member of a Commission established under this Chapter may be removed from office only for inability to exercise the function of his office (whether arising form infirmity of body or ming or any other cause) of for misbehavior and shall no be so removed except in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

(2) A member of a Commission shall be removed from office by the Governor-General if the question of his removal from office has been referred to a tribunal appointed under paragraph (3) of this Article and the tribunal has recommended to the Governor-General that he ought to be removed from office for inability as aforesaid or for misbehavior.

(3) If the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the prescribed authority, considers that the question of removing a member of a Commission under this Article ought to be investigated, then-

a) the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the prescribed authority shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of a chairman and not less than two other members, selected by the Chief Justice, or where the question concerns the Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission by the President of the court of Appeal, from among persons who hold or have held or are qualified to hold office as a Justice of the Supreme Court ; and

b) the tribunal shall enquire into the matter and report on the facts thereof the Governor-general and recommend to him whether the member ought to be removed under this Article.

(4) If the question or removing a member of a Commission has been referred to a tribunal under this Article, the Governor-general, acting in accordance with the advice of the prescribed authority, amy suspend that member form the exercise of the functions of his office and any such suspension may be at any time revoked by the Governor-general, and shall in any case cease to have effect if the tribunal recommends to the Governor-general that member should not be removed.

(5) In this Article-

"Commission" includes the Public Service Board of Appeal;

"the prescribed authority" means-

a) in relation to the Public Service Commission or the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, the Prime Minister when the question concerns the Chairman of either of those Commissions, and the Chairman of the Commission concerned when the question concerns any other member of either of those Commissions ; and

b) in relation to the Public Service Board of Apppeal or the Police Service Commission, the Prime Minister.

Chapter I - The Constitution

1. The State

2. The Constitution is supreme law

Chapter II - Citizenship

3. Persons who become citizens on 10th July 1973

4. Persons who become citizens on 9th July 1974

5. Persons entitled to be registered as citizens

6. Persons born in The Bahamas after 9th July 1973

7. Persons born The Bahamas after 9th July 1973 of non-citizen parents

8. Persons born outside The Bahamas after 9th July 1973

9. Further provisions for persons born outside The Bahamas after 9th July 1973

10. Marriage to citizens of The Bahamas

11. Deprivation of citizenship

12. Renunciation of citizenship

13. Power of Parliament

14. Interpretation

Chapter III - Protection Of Fundamental Rights And Freedoms Of The Individual

15. Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual

16. Protection of right to life

17. Protection from inhuman treatment

18. Protection from slavery and forced labour

19. Protection from arbitrary arrest or detention

20. Provisions to secure protection of law

21. Protection for privacy of home and other property

22. Protection of freedom of conscience

23. Protection of freedom of expression

24. Protection of freedom of assembly and association

25. Protection of freedom of movement

26. Protection from discrimination on the grounds of race, etc.

27. Protection from deprivation of property

28. Enforcement of fundamental rights

29. Provisions for time of war or emergency

30. Saving of existing law

31. Interpretation

Chapter IV - The Governor-general

32. Establishment of office of Governor-General

33. Acting Governor-General

34. Deputy to Governor-General

35. Personal staff of Governor-General

36. Public Seal

37. Oaths to be taken by Governor-General

Chapter V - Parliament

Part 1 - Composition of Parliament

38. Establishment of Parliament

Part 2 - The Senate

39. Composition of Senate

40. Purpose of appointment of certain Senator

41. Qualifications for appointment as Senator

42. Disqualifications for appointments as Senator

43. Tenure of office of Senators

44. President and Vice-President

45. Determination of questions as to membership

Part 3 - House of Assembly

46. Composition of House of Assembly

47. Qualifications for membership of House of Assembly

48. Disqualifications for election as members of House of Assembly

49. Tenure of office of Members of House of Assembly

50. Speaker and Deputy Speaker

51. Determination of questions as to membership

Part 4 - Powers and Procedure of Parliament

52. Powers and Procedure of Parliament

53. Privileges of Parliament

54. Alteration of this Constitution

55. Regulation of procedure in Parliament

56. Presiding in the Senate and House of Assembly

57. Quorum

58. Voting

59. Introduction of Bills, etc

60. Restriction on powers of Senate as to Money Bills

61. Restriction on powers of Senate as to Bills other than Money Bills

62. Provisions relating to Articles 59, 60 and 61

63. Assent to Bills

64. Oath of allegiance

Part 5 - Summoning Prorogation and Dissolution

65. Sessions of Parliament

66. Prorogation and dissolution of Parliament

67. General election, bye-elections and appointment of Senators

Part 6 - Delimitation of Constituencies

68. Constituencies

69. Constituencies Commission

70. Procedure for review of constituencies

Chapter VI - The Executive

71. Executive Authority

72. The Cabinet

73. Appointment of Ministers

74. Tenure of office of Ministers

75. Performance of functions of Prime Minister during absence, illness or suspension

76. Temporary Ministers

77. Allocation of portfolios to Ministers

78. Functions of Attorney-General

79. Exercise of Governor-General's powers

80. Governor-General to be informed concerning matters of Government

81. Parliamentary Secretaries

82. Leader of the Opposition

83. Certain vacancies in office of Leader of the Opposition

84. Oaths to be taken by Ministers, etc

85. Leave of absence for Ministers, etc

86. Summoning of and presiding in Cabinet

87. Quorum

88. Permanent Secretaries

89. Constitution of offices, etc

90. Powers of pardon, etc

91. Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy

92. Functions of Advisory Committee

Chapter VII - The Judicature

Part 1 - The Supreme Court

93. Establishment of Supreme Court

94. Appointment of Justices of Supreme Court

95. Acting Justices

96. Tenure of office of Justice of Supreme Court

97. Oaths to be taken by Justices of Supreme Court

Part 2 - Court of Appeal

98. Establishment of Court of Appeal

99. Justices of the Court of Appeal

100. Other arrangements for appeals

101. Acting Justices of Court of Appeal

102. Tenure of office of Justices of Appeal

103. Oaths to be taken by Justices of Appeal

Part 3 - Appeals to Court of Appeal and Her Majesty in Council

104. Appeals relating to fundamental rights and freedoms

105. Appeals to Her Majesty in Council in other cases

106. Interpretation of "Court of Appeal

Chapter VIII - The Public Service

Part 1 - The Public Service Commission

107. Establishment and composition of Public Officers

Part 2 - Appointments etc. of Public Officers

108. Appointments, etc. of public officers

109. Appointments of Permanent Secretaries and certain other public officers

110. Delegation of Governor-General's powers

111. Appointments, etc. of principal representatives of The Bahamas abroad

112. Appointments on transfer in respect of certain offices

113. Appointment of Secretary to the Cabinet

Part 3 - The Public Service Board of Appeal

114. Public Service Board of Appeal

115. Appeals in discipline cases

Part 4 - The Judicial and Legal Service Commission

116. Establishment and composition of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission

117. Appointments, etc. of judicial and legal officers

Part 5 - The Police Service Commission

118. Establishment and composition of the Police Service Commission

119. Appointment of Commissioner of Police and other officers of the Police Force

120. Removal of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police

121. Removal and discipline of members of the Force

Part 6 - Pensions

122. Protection of pension rights

123. Grant and withholding of pensions, etc

124. Appeals in respect of certain decisions affecting pensions benefits

Part 7 - Miscellaneous

125. Procedure of Commissions

126. Removal from office of certain persons

127. Public Service

Chapter IX - Finance

128. Consolidated Fund

129. Estimates

130. Authority for public expenditure

131. Withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund

132. Withdrawal of money in advance of Appropriation Act

133. Contingencies Fund

134. Public Debt

135. Remuneration of Governor-General and certain other officers

136. Establishment of office and functions of Auditor-General

Chapter X - Interpretation

137. Interpretation