Elections must be held at least every five years but may be called by the prime minister at any time. Antigua and Barbuda has a multiparty political system with a long history of hard fought elections, two of which have resulted in peaceful changes of government. The opposition, however, claims to be disadvantaged by the ruling party's longstanding monopoly on patronage and its control of the electronic media. Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the eastern Caribbean court system.
Jurisprudence is based on English common law.
However, a series of violent hurricanes since 1995 resulted in serious damage to tourist infrastructure and periods of sharp reductions in visitor numbers. Antigua and Barbuda is a beneficiary of the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative. The country agreed to contribute personnel to the multinational force which restored the democratically elected government of Haiti in October 1994. The summit strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counter-narcotics issues, finance and development, and trade. The United States has maintained friendly relations with Antigua and Barbuda since its independence.