From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The
National Assembly
and the
King of Saint Christopher and Nevis
jointly make up the
legislature
of
Saint Kitts and Nevis
.
[1]
Composition of the National Assembly
[
edit
]
The assembly has 14 or 15 members (depending upon circumstances), 11 of whom are elected for a five-year term in single-seat
constituencies
and are known as Representatives. The remaining four are called Senators; three are appointed by the
governor-general
and the fourth is the
attorney-general
(i.e. an
ex officio
member).
The 1983 constitution mandates at least three senators, or four if the attorney-general is not one of these three appointed senators. The number can be increased by the parliament as long as it doesn't exceed two thirds of the number of representatives. Except for the attorney-general, the senators are appointed by the governor-general, acting on the advice of the
prime minister
in two of the appointments and the
leader of the opposition
for the third one.
Legislative authority
[
edit
]
Parliament is empowered by the 1983 constitution to make laws for the
Peace, order, and good government
of the federation, excepting those areas in the exclusive competence of the
Nevis Island Legislature
.
[2]
Following passage by the National Assembly,
Royal Assent
is required to be given by the
Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis
.
[3]
Amendments to the constitution require a two-thirds
supermajority
in the Assembly.
[4]
Latest election
[
edit
]
Elected MPs
[
edit
]
Speaker of the National Assembly
[
edit
]
The Assembly has a
speaker
and
deputy speaker
elected by the members of the parliament during its first meeting following a
general election
. They do not have to be members of it; but if they are then they cannot also be in the
cabinet
or
parliamentary secretaries
.
The current speaker of the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis is
Lanien Blanchette
, who has been in office since October 2022. She succeeded Anthony Michael Perkins.
Previous speakers
[
edit
]
Speakers of the Legislative Council of
Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
Speakers of the National Assembly of St Kitts and Nevis
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]