I - Introduction

Seventeen (17) senators appointed by the Governor General. In the event of a senator's seat becoming temporarily vacant due to non-attendance, suspension or illness, the Governor General may nominate a replacement to take the senator's seat on a temporary basis.

II - System of Appointment

Term of office : 5 years. Most recent appointments : 24 March 2004.

Criteria for eligibility : 21 years of age, British Commonwealth citizen, residence for at least one month prior to the appointment, English mother tongue.

Ineligibility : citizen of a foreign power, undischarged bankrupt, suffering from mental illness, sentenced to death, sentenced to prison for one year or more, convicted of electoral fraud, convicted of any crime in the ten years prior to the appointment.

Incompatibilities : those who hold certain public offices, electoral officers, and ministers of religion. (parliamentary secretaries (secretaries of State) are appointed by the Governor General with the agreement of the Prime Minister from among members of the House of Representatives or from the senators. Similarly, a senator or member of the House of Representatives may be appointed on a temporary basis as a minister (in the event of absence from Antigua and Barbuda or illness). The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over the appointment of senators.

III - Organization Of Session

The Governor General decides on the opening and closing date for senatorial business. No parliamentary sitting may be suspended for more than three consecutive months in the course of a parliamentary session (nor more than six months following the prorogation of Parliament, or four months following its dissolution). A parliamentary sitting must adjourn unless there is a quorum of six members (excluding the Speaker).

IV - Relations With The Other Chamber And The Executive

The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda consists of Her Majesty the Queen of England, the Senate and the House of Representatives.