Type Unicameral | Seats 32 members | |
 | ||
Political groups Governing party
Dominica Labour Party (15)
Government Senators (5)
Opposition party
United Workers' Party (Dominica) (6)
Opposition Senators (4)
Other members
Attorney General (ex-officio) (1) | ||
The House of Assembly is the legislature of Dominica. It is established by Chapter III of the Constitution of Dominica, and together with the President of Dominica constitutes Dominica's Parliament. The House is unicameral, and consists of twenty-one Representatives, nine Senators, and the Attorney General is an ex officio member. The Speaker of the House becomes the thirty-second member if chosen from outside the membership of the House.
Representatives are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority (or First-past-the-post) system for a term of five years. The Representatives in turn decide whether the Senators are to be elected by their vote, or appointed. If appointed, five are chosen by the president with the advice of the prime minister and four with the advice of the opposition leader. The current Senators are appointed.
Alix Boyd Knights is the current Speaker of the House of Assembly, and was elected from outside the membership of the House. First elected on April 17, 2000, Knights is the longest to serve in that position.
The Cabinet of Dominica is appointed from members of the House of Assembly. However, no more than three Senators may be members of the Cabinet.
Representatives
Since the election held on 8 December 2014, the Dominica Labour Party has held 15 of the 21 directly elected seats, and the opposition United Workers' Party has held six elected seats. The next election is not yet scheduled.