Senate of Barbados

Senate of Barbados
Type
Type	Upper house
Leadership
President of the Senate	Reginald Farley, BLP since 15 September 2020
Deputy President	H. Elizabeth Thompson, BLP since 4 February 2022
Leader of Government Business	Lisa Cummins, BLP
Structure
Seats	21
Political groups	Government   BLP (12) Opposition   Ind. (7)   DLP (2)
Elections
Voting system	Appointed by the president of the republic
Meeting place
Senate of Barbados chamber Bridgetown, St. Michael, Barbados
Website
The Senate

Politics of Barbados
Constitution Human rights
Executive President (list) Dame Sandra Mason Prime Minister (list) Mia Mottley Cabinet Ministries
Legislature House of Assembly Speaker: Arthur Holder Senate President: Reginald Farley Leader Opposition Leader: Bishop Joseph J. S. Atherley Legislation
Judiciary Caribbean Court of Justice Supreme Court Chief Justice: Marston Gibson Court of Appeal High Court Magistrates courts Barbados law Human rights
Elections Recent elections General: 2018 2022 Next Presidential: 2021 Constituencies Political parties
Administrative divisions Parishes Parliamentary constituencies Constituency Councils
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business Minister: Kerrie Symmonds Diplomatic missions of / in Barbados Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Historical Treaty of Oistins Monarchy Governor-General Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Colonial Barbados Governor Colonial Secretary Council of Barbados Executive Council Legislative Council Local government (Vestry system) Mayor of Bridgetown Bridgetown City Council
Other countries
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The Senate of Barbados is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. The Senate is accorded legitimacy by Chapter V of the Constitution of Barbados.^[1] It is the smaller of the two chambers. The Senate was established in 1964 to replace a prior body known as the Legislative Council. Besides creating and reviewing Barbadian legislation, the Senate generally reviews approved legislation originating from the House of Assembly (Lower House). One main constraint on the Senate is that it cannot author monetary or budget-related bills. Most of the non-political appointees to the Senate have been selected by the President of Barbados, from civil society organisations, labour collectives and public associations in Barbados. Prior to Barbados becoming a republic on the 30 November 2021, these functions were performed by the Governor-General, who was the viceroy of the Monarchy of Barbados which has since been abolished.

According to the Constitution of Barbados, 7 are chosen at the President's sole discretion, 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister and 2 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.^[2] In the absence of an opposition leader, the president appoints 2 extra senators bringing the total amount of independents to 9.^[3] The Senate sits for 20 to 25 days a year. The term of the Senate, and the House of Assembly, is five years;^[4] both chambers are dissolved before each election.