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The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Dominica, English
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (7) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
…
(3) In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by sex, race, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed whereby persons of one such description are subject to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law far as that law makes provision-
…
(d) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned is subsection (3) of this section may be subject to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage that having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
… (Sec. 13)
Government
Dominica, English
(1) There shall be a Prime Minister of Dominica, who shall be appointed by the President.
(2) Whenever the President has occasion to appoint a Prime Minister he shall appoint an elected member of the House who appears to him likely to command the support of the majority of the elected members of the House.
(3) There shall be, in addition to the office of Prime Minister, such other offices of Minister of the Government as may be established by Parliament or, subject to the provisions of any law enacted by Parliament, by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.
(4) Appointments to the office of Minister, other than the office of Prime Minister, shall be made by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, from among the members of the House:
Provided that not more than three Ministers shall be appointed from among Senators who have been appointed as such.
… (Sec. 59)
Government
Dominica, English
(1) There shall be a Cabinet of Ministers for Dominica which shall consist of the Prime Minister and the other Ministers.
… (Sec. 60)
Head of State
Dominica, English
(1) There shall be a President of Dominica who shall be elected by the House and shall hold office for a term of five years.
… (Sec. 18)
Head of State
Dominica, English
(1) A person shall be qualified to be nominated for election as President if, and shall not be so qualified unless, he is a citizen of Dominica of the age of forty years or upwards who at the date of his nomination has been resident in Dominica for five years immediately preceding his nomination.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section a person shall be deemed to reside in Dominica if he holds an office in the service of the Government, or is employed with any intergovernmental organisation or institution of the Commonwealth Caribbean or any international organisation or institution of which Dominica is a member and lives outside Dominica because he is required to do so for the proper discharge of his functions.
(3) Parliament may, by resolution supported by the votes of not less than three-fourths of all the elected members of the House waive the residence qualification laid down in subsection (1) of this section with respect to any particular person to be proposed for nomination. (Sec. 20)
Legislature
Dominica, English
There shall be a Parliament of Dominica which shall consist of the President and a House of Assembly. (Sec. 29)
Electoral Bodies
Dominica, English
(1) The Electoral Commission shall be responsible for the registration of voters for the purpose of electing Representatives and for the conduct of elections of Representatives and Senators and shall have such powers and other functions relating to such registration and elections as may be prescribed by law.
… (Sec. 38)
Head of State
Dominica, English
(1) The executive authority of Dominica is vested in the President.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive authority of Dominica may be exercised by the President either directly or through officers subordinate to him.
… (Sec. 58)
Legislature
Dominica, English
(1) Subject to the provisions of section 32 of this Constitution a person shall be qualified to be elected as a Representative if, and shall not be so qualified unless, he—
(a) is a citizen of Dominica of the age of twenty-one years or upwards;
(b) has resided in Dominica for a period of twelve months immediately before the date of his nomination for election or is domiciled and resident in Dominica at that date; and
(c) is able to speak and, unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause, to read the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him to take an active part in the proceedings of the House.
(2) Subject to the provisions of section 32 of this Constitution, a person shall be qualified to be elected or appointed as a Senator if, and shall not be so qualified unless, he—
(a) is a Commonwealth citizen of the age of twenty-one years or upwards;
(b) is domiciled and resident in Dominica at the date of his appointment or nomination for election; and
(c) is able to speak and, unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause, to read the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him to take an active part in the proceedings of the House. (Sec. 31)
Legislature
Dominica, English
(1) The House shall consist of—
(a) such number of Representatives as corresponds with the number of constituencies for the time being established in accordance with the provisions of section 57 of this Constitution, who shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of section 33 of this Constitution;
(b) nine Senators appointed or elected in accordance with the provisions of section 34 of this Constitution.
… (Sec. 30)