By Mrs. Brown- 2010Grade 9.

To prevent the abuse of power by the government in carrying out its functions , the power has been divided

among the THREE bodies or branches.

This is known as the principle of separation of powers.

The structure of Government in the Caribbean is made up of THREE bodies or branches.

1.Executive- setting of policies to guide country2.Legislative- deals with the making of laws3.Judiciary-the maintenance of laws.

The Head of State

The Governor General

Legislature Executive Judiciary

Parliament Prime Minister and his Cabinet

Attorney General (The Justice System)

Senate & House of Representatives

Ministries/CivilService Agriculture

Commissioner of PoliceSystems of CourtsJudges and Lawyers

Finance

Electorate Health

Transport

Education and Culture

(The structure of government in Jamaica in more details)

Parliament: The Jamaican legislature is referred to as a bicameral legislature( the House of Representatives and the Senate.)

The House comprises 60 members elected for five-year terms.

The Senate consists of 21 members appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.

In Jamaica, we have 21 senators, 13 of these members are appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister.

The remaining eight senators represent the opposition appointed on the advice of the leader of the opposition.

•The majority of the Senate are nominated by the Prime Minister thus giving the Government majority of the votes in Senate, others are nominated by the Head of state and the leader of the opposition.

•Majority of votes are also in the House of representative because it also has majority members there.

•The House of Representative has the elected members of Cabinet, others from the governing party and elected members of the Opposition party .

•Passes legislation/statuary law•Abolish legislation•Amends the constitution when necessary•Approves the national budget•Authorizes the expenditure of public funds•Confirm international treaties•Examines government’s activities and performance through parliament questions.

•Considers all Bills passed in the House of Representatives before they can become law

•May introduce any Bill except one of a financial nature.

See handout.

1.Draft stage2.First reading3.Second reading4.Committee stage5.Report stage6.Third reading7.Senate debate8.Assent/proclamation

•The composition of cabinet•The functions of Cabinet•How the Cabinet works•Functions of the Prime Minister•The Head of State•The Civil Service

The executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of a country.

Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is not supposed to make laws (that is the role of the legislature) or to interpret them (the role of the judiciary).

The executive arm of government comprises the head of state, the prime minister and the ministers of government.

These persons are collectively called the Cabinet.

The prime minister and the Cabinet are selected from Parliament.

The prime minister appoints the ministers of the Cabinet.

•To make policies •To issue directions for enforcing laws and policies •To initiate bills •To formulate budgets •To appoint ambassadors •To appoint commissions and board members to statutory bodies •To grant resident status and citizenship to aliens.