If elected, it is by vote of the regional representatives. Elections for representatives and senators must be held at least every five years, although the prime minister can call elections any time. Next elections are due by September 1995 but are expected to be called for May 1995. Dominica's legal system is based on English common law. There are three magistrate's courts, with appeals made to the West Indies Court of Appeal and, ultimately, to the Privy Council in London.
Councils elected by universal suffrage govern most towns.
Supported largely by property taxation, they are responsible for the regulation of markets and sanitation and the maintenance of secondary roads and other municipal amenities. The island is also divided into 10 parishes, whose governance is unrelated to the town governments. It grew rapidly in 1990 as a result of higher banana prices and increased construction and tourism activity, then slowed again in 1991. During 1993 and 1994, banana prices fell significantly. This sector is highly vulnerable to weather conditions and to external events affecting commodity prices.