Capital: Nassau
Administrative divisions: 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay

Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 10 July (1973)

Constitution: 10 July 1973

Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Orville A. TURNQUEST (since 19 August 1992)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor on the prime minister's recommendation

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: a 16-member body appointed by the governor general
House of Assembly: elections last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held by August 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) FNM 32, PLP 17

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM;
Member of: ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 319-2660
FAX: (202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lino GUTIERREZ
embassy: Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau
telephone: (809) 322-1181 or 328-2206
FAX: (809) 328-7838

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

NOTE: The information regarding The Bahamas on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of The Bahamas Government 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about The Bahamas Government 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.