The Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation was the bicameral legislature in West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962. It was formally made up of two houses, an appointed Senate (Upper house) and an elected House of Representatives (Lower house).
The governor general, on behalf of the monarch, summoned and appointed the 19 senators, while each of the 45 members of the House of Representatives represented an electoral district, and were elected by voters residing in the district. The governor general also summoned and called together the House of Representatives, and had the power to prorogue or dissolve Parliament, in order to either end a parliamentary session or call a general election.[1]
The only election was held in 1958. It remained for 4 years until the dissolution of the federation in 1962. The official language of the Parliament was English.
Potential Senators must have met certain criteria before they could be nominated to the upper chamber. In order to be eligible for appointment, a person must have been a British subject of at least 21 years of age who has resided in the territory compromised in the Federation for the previous three years. A person would have been ineligible for appointment if they were in bankruptcy, had a mental illness, held an allegiance to a foreign state, had a capital punishment sentence, have been in prison for a time exceeding twelve months, or disqualified to be elected at the House of Representatives. Furthermore, a Senator could not have also served as a civil servant, a member of the armed forces or police, a judge, a public prosecutor, a controller, or a sitting member of the House of Representatives. Senators served for five years.[1]
President of the Senateedit
The president of the Senate was the presiding officer of the Senate. He or she was assisted by a vice president who must have been a sitting senator. Both the president and the vice president must not have been a member of the Council of State.
The lower chamber was called the House of Representatives, and it had popularly elected 45 members, where five members were from Barbados, 17 from Jamaica, 10 from Trinidad and Tobago, 1 from Montserrat, and 2 from the remaining territories. Montserrat also had a privilege of an alternate member, who served as a substitute member in the absence of the main member. The requirements to stand for election were similar with the requirements for Senate appointment. However, the alternate member for Montserrat was forbidden to stand election as the main member of Montserrat.[1]
Speaker of the House of Representativesedit
The speaker of the House of Representatives was the presiding officer of the House of Representatives who must not have been a member of the Council of State. Erskine Ward was the sole speaker during the existence of the Federal Parliament.
^ abc"West Indies (Federation) Order in Council, 1957" (PDF). Digital Legislative Library of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
^Lentz, Harris M. (February 4, 2014). Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. Routledge. ISBN9781134264902 – via Google Books.
^Grey, Ian (January 10, 1986). The Parliamentarians: The History of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, 1911-1985. Gower. ISBN9780566051999 – via Google Books.
federal, parliament, west, indies, federation, bicameral, legislature, west, indies, federation, from, 1958, 1962, formally, made, houses, appointed, senate, upper, house, elected, house, representatives, lower, house, typetypebicameralhousessenatehouse, repre. The Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation was the bicameral legislature in West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962 It was formally made up of two houses an appointed Senate Upper house and an elected House of Representatives Lower house Federal Parliament of the West Indies FederationTypeTypeBicameralHousesSenateHouse of RepresentativesHistoryFoundedApril 1958DisbandedJuly 1962StructureSenate political groups Federalist 15 Democrat 4 House of Representatives political groups Federalist 25 Democrat 19 Barbados National 1 Length of term5 years maximum ElectionsSenate voting systemAppointment by the governor generalLast House of Representatives election25 March 1958Meeting placePort of Spain TrinidadThe governor general on behalf of the monarch summoned and appointed the 19 senators while each of the 45 members of the House of Representatives represented an electoral district and were elected by voters residing in the district The governor general also summoned and called together the House of Representatives and had the power to prorogue or dissolve Parliament in order to either end a parliamentary session or call a general election 1 The only election was held in 1958 It remained for 4 years until the dissolution of the federation in 1962 The official language of the Parliament was English Contents 1 Senate 1 1 President of the Senate 1 1 1 List of presidents 2 House of Representatives 2 1 Speaker of the House of Representatives 2 1 1 List of speakers 3 See also 4 ReferencesSenate editThe upper chamber was called the Senate and it had 19 members appointed by the Governor General of the West Indies Federation There were 2 senators from each territory except Montserrat which only had 1 senator Potential Senators must have met certain criteria before they could be nominated to the upper chamber In order to be eligible for appointment a person must have been a British subject of at least 21 years of age who has resided in the territory compromised in the Federation for the previous three years A person would have been ineligible for appointment if they were in bankruptcy had a mental illness held an allegiance to a foreign state had a capital punishment sentence have been in prison for a time exceeding twelve months or disqualified to be elected at the House of Representatives Furthermore a Senator could not have also served as a civil servant a member of the armed forces or police a judge a public prosecutor a controller or a sitting member of the House of Representatives Senators served for five years 1 President of the Senate edit The president of the Senate was the presiding officer of the Senate He or she was assisted by a vice president who must have been a sitting senator Both the president and the vice president must not have been a member of the Council of State List of presidents edit No Name Term of office Party Province Ref Took office Left office1 Allen Montgomery Lewis 1958 1959 Federalist Saint Lucia 2 2 Arnott Cato 1959 1962 Federalist Barbados 3 House of Representatives editThe lower chamber was called the House of Representatives and it had popularly elected 45 members where five members were from Barbados 17 from Jamaica 10 from Trinidad and Tobago 1 from Montserrat and 2 from the remaining territories Montserrat also had a privilege of an alternate member who served as a substitute member in the absence of the main member The requirements to stand for election were similar with the requirements for Senate appointment However the alternate member for Montserrat was forbidden to stand election as the main member of Montserrat 1 Speaker of the House of Representatives edit The speaker of the House of Representatives was the presiding officer of the House of Representatives who must not have been a member of the Council of State Erskine Ward was the sole speaker during the existence of the Federal Parliament List of speakers edit No Name Term of office Party Province Ref Took office Left office1 Erskine Ward 1958 1962 Federalist Barbados 4 See also editWest Indies Federation List of legislatures by countryReferences edit a b c West Indies Federation Order in Council 1957 PDF Digital Legislative Library of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Lentz Harris M February 4 2014 Heads of States and Governments Since 1945 Routledge ISBN 9781134264902 via Google Books Grey Ian January 10 1986 The Parliamentarians The History of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 1911 1985 Gower ISBN 9780566051999 via Google Books Caribbean Elections Biography Erskine Ward www caribbeanelections com Retrieved 2023 04 08 nbsp This legislature related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation amp oldid 1176284392, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
