Barbados: Government
Key Figures
- Chief of State:
- Queen Elizabeth II represented by Governor General Sandra Mason
- Head of Government:
- Prime Minister Mia Mottley
Overview
- Government Name:
- Barbados
- Constitution:
- Adopted: 1966; Elaborates upon basic structure and power of both government officials and branches, and also discusses finance, public service, and citizenship in Barbados. Most recently amended in 2003.
- Government Type:
- Parliamentary Democracy and a Commonwealth Realm

Index of Economic Freedom
Country Risk Rating
Government Branches
Main Powers | Election Process | Election Cycle 1 | |
---|---|---|---|
Executive | The queen is the ceremonial figure for the Barbados government. The governor-general performs the monarch's federal constitutional duties, acting within the principles of parliamentary democracy and responsible government as a guarantor of continuous and stable governance. The prime minister advises the Canadian monarch or viceroy. The QPC act as personal consultants to the Monarch depending on their specific title names. |
The queen is hereditary. The governor general is appointed by the monarch. The prime minister is appointed by the governor-general. |
Governor-General: at Her Majesty's discretion; Prime Minister: 5 years |
Judicial | The independent judiciary is composed of magistrates' courts, which are statutorily authorized, and a supreme court, which is constitutionally mandated. The supreme court consists of the high court and the court of appeal, each having four judges. |
The supreme court of judicature judges are appointed by the service commissions for the judicial and legal service. |
Mandatory retirement age of 65 |
Legislative | The senate actually tends to be less dominant than commons. Approval of both houses is needed for legislation, but the senate rarely rejects bills passed by the directly elected commons. |
The senate has 21 members who are appointed by governor-general. The house of assembly has 30 members who are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies. |
5 years |
Regional Trade Blocs
International Organization Participation [2]
Environmental Agreements [3]
Tax Information [2]
- Tax Authority:
- Customs and Excise Department
- Tax Name:
- VAT
Sources:
- ElectionGuide http://www.electionguide.org/
- EY, http://www.ey.com
- CIA World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
- U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/