Grenada is a small island state with a parliamentary democracy, which gained independence from the UK in 1974. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, with the British Monarch as head of the executive and part of the legislature, represented by the Governor General. The Prime Minister is head of Government and the legislature, which consists of the bicameral Parliament (Senate – 13 seats, 10 members appointed by the Government; House of Representatives – 15 seats, elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies for a five-year term). The Supreme Court of Grenada is the highest judicial body. The most recent elections were held on 2013 and the next are planned for 2018.
Legislative initiative power belongs to the Governor General representing the British Monarch and members of both parliamentary Chambers, except for legislative proposals concerning public finances and taxation, which are initiated by the government and must be first submitted before the House of Representatives. Under the ordinary procedure (non-finance legislation), bills are adopted by both Chambers, with the House of Representatives able to overturn a Senate rejection of a bill. Bills must be adopted by both Houses and receive Royal Assent from the Governor General before they can be published in the Official Gazette and become law.