Parliament of Bermuda

Parliament of Bermuda
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate House of Assembly
History
Founded	1 August 1620; 404 years ago (1 August 1620)
Leadership
Monarch	Charles III since 8 September 2022
Governor	Rena Lalgie since 14 December 2020
President of the Senate	Joan Dillas-Wright, Independent
Speaker of the House of Assembly	Dennis Lister, Progressive Labour
Structure
Seats	47
Political groups	His Majesty's Government (30)   Progressive Labour (30) His Majesty's Loyal Opposition (6)   One Bermuda Alliance (6)
Political groups	His Majesty's Government (5)   Progressive Labour (5) His Majesty's Loyal Opposition (6)   One Bermuda Alliance (3)   Independent (3)
Elections
Last election	18 February 2025
Meeting place
House of Assembly Building, Hamilton
Website
parliament.bm

Politics of Bermuda
Law
Monarchy Sovereign Charles III Governor Andrew Murdoch
Executive Premier Edward David Burt
Legislative Parliament Senate President: Joan Dillas-Wright House of Assembly Speaker: Dennis Lister Leader of the Opposition: N.H. Cole Simons
Elections Recent elections General: 2012 2017 2020 2025 Political parties Progressive Labour Party (PLP) One Bermuda Alliance (OBA)
Administrative divisions
Citizenship Belonger status British Overseas Territories citizen Passport Visa requirements
Foreign relations Representative of Bermuda, London
Other countries
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The Parliament of Bermuda is the bicameral legislative body of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda.^[1] Based on the Westminster system, one of the two chambers (lower house) is elected, the other (upper house), appointed.^[2]

The two chambers are:

• House of Assembly (36 members; elected for a five-year term in single seat constituencies)
• Senate (11 appointed members)

Originally, the House of Assembly was the only house in the legislature. It held its first session in 1620, making Bermuda's Parliament amongst the world's oldest legislatures and the oldest extant legislature in the Americas. An appointed Privy Council originally performed roles similar to those of an upper house and of a cabinet.

A major constitutional change took place in 1968. The Legislative Council was replaced with an appointed Senate as part of a reorganisation of the Parliament of Bermuda into a bicameral system; Bermuda is the only British Overseas Territory to have such system.^[3] Political parties were legalised, and universal adult suffrage adopted. The position of Premier was also introduced as leader of the ruling party, and an official opposition.